Swarthmore Viewbook 2021

WELL, THIS FEELS NEW.
It’s been quite the journey to get here, hasn’t it?

You could say that.

Applying to college may seem different FROM WHAT you were expecting.

Honestly, everything does these days.

You’re absolutely right.
We’re all still adjusting.

Don’t I know it.

But you got here.
And here we are, too.
Ready to face the world and the future.
Want to do this together?

I’m intrigued.

Take a look inside.
Swarthmore College logo
You’RE STILL READING!

Reluctantly.

Do you like these fonts? And this paper? It’s made from 100% post-consumer waste!

I appreciate the effort.

can we keep going?

Yes, yes. But let’s get on with it. I’m extremely busy.

Fair enough. What do you want to know?

Tell me about Swarthmore. What kind of school is it?

let me put it in graphic terms:
Graph
View Interactive Graph
Swarthmore is an excellent college where intellectuals come together to think and create for the betterment of the world.
Yawn.
And we have a famously giant Adirondack chair.
But do you have my major?
How about you keep reading?
College materials are all the same.
I know,
right?
Inspire me.
[performs interpretive dance to your favorite song]
OK, I’m paying attention, but what makes
Swarthmore different?
We were hoping you’d ASK that.
Motivation
Whether it’s the lure of free debate or free pizza, you’ll be inspired to
participate at all levels.
INTELLECT
Introducing the “social intellectual.” (Think problem set meets mosh pit.)
AFFORDABILITY
Financial aid — without the need for student loans.
COMMUNITY
The intersection of passion and pterodactyls.
ACTION
Thinking and doing and being — with purpose.
BALANCE
Work and play, mind and body, sweet and salty.
DESTINATION
Why opportunities matter. Where you’ll go from here.
All the facts you care to read:
majors, programs, activities, resources, and more.
Swartmore College campus
OUR COMMUNITY OF THINKERS AND DOERS —

of creators, dissectors, and debaters, of problem finders and problem solvers — gets inside your head. As you help shape this place, it shapes you: your way of looking at the world, your way of interacting with it, your way of making it better. After four years as a Swattie, you’ll emerge prepared to work with others to make things happen. Whether that means engineering new technology, advancing sustainability research, starting a microfinance incubator, or combining psychology and art to study cognition, as a Swattie you’ll have what it takes to apply your knowledge with meaning and purpose.

“It doesn’t
matter what
courses you
take.
What ultimately matters
is that you
took them
at Swarthmore.”

PERSPECTIVE.

Swarthmore’s Clothier Hall bell tower, like the College itself, is no ivory edifice. Flanked by the Hormel-Nguyen Intercultural Center at Sproul Hall, it looks out over Philadelphia, the sixth-largest city in the United States. On campus and nearby, Swarthmore students have all they need for a rich intellectual and social experience — one that empowers them to make a difference in the world.

In the 2020–2021 academic year, Swarthmore students were awarded three Fulbright Grants, two Goldwater Scholarships, a Marshall Scholarship, and multiple National Science Foundation grants.
student in front of project for biomedical use of 3d printing
stone statue in garden
During the past five years, 91% of applicants were admitted to law school (compared with a national average of 74%).
campus building architecture during the day
Between 2010 and 2020, Swarthmore students and graduates were awarded
244
Fulbright Grants, Marshall Scholarships, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowships, National Science Foundation Fellowships, and Rhodes Scholarships.
soccer players on the field during a game on campus
Swarthmore ranks #3 among U.S. colleges and universities for students who go on to earn Ph.D.s.
person walking across campus courtyard during the day
view of students at the campus library
5 alumni have won the Nobel Prize.
students sitting on the grass of the campus courtyard
During the past five years, 80% of applicants were admitted to medical school (compared with a national average of 43% ).
campus courtyard during the day
Swarthmore student-athletes have received more than 350 All-American awards.
dance students in school gym
closeup of green leaves

Challenging = FUN
more challenging = more FUN

Every course in Swarthmore’s liberal arts curriculum is designed to make students think. Hard. Which means that classmates work together, laugh together, explore together, and end up discovering more than they thought possible.

Sample Senior Thesis Titles
“Street Children in Zimbabwe”
“Sense from Nonsense: A Linguistic and Literary Analysis of Two ASL Translations of ‘Jabberwocky’”
“Fuel-Cell Car”
“HIV Prevention: Reducing Infectivity by Breaking Down Amyloid Fibers”
Book IconVisit Swarthmore Academics
Swarthmore’s professor laughs with her students

Challenging = FUN
more challenging = more FUN

Every course in Swarthmore’s liberal arts curriculum is designed to make students think. Hard. Which means that classmates work together, laugh together, explore together, and end up discovering more than they thought possible.

Sample Senior Thesis Titles
“Street Children in Zimbabwe”
“Sense from Nonsense: A Linguistic and Literary Analysis of Two ASL Translations of ‘Jabberwocky’”
“Fuel-Cell Car”
“HIV Prevention: Reducing Infectivity by Breaking Down Amyloid Fibers”
Book IconVisit Swarthmore Academics

WHAT IS
MOTIVATION?

It’s not something imposed on you. That’s prescription.
It’s not a superficial reward. That’s a pat on the head.
It’s not something dangled in front of you. That’s a carrot.
Then again, it’s hard to motivate in a vacuum.
That’s why the quality of the people around you makes such a difference.
Everyone at Swarthmore is on an intellectual journey:
the students, to find their calling — undauntedly and omnivorously;
the faculty, to share and deepen knowledge, to arrive
at creation through imagination, to help students become
scholars and leaders and doers.
Swarthmore professors are passionate about what they teach.
Their courses are invitations to go on a journey together.
If you have a strong attraction to a subject, seeing it from a professor’s perspective can validate your interest. That leads to even greater involvement, which leads to the kind of discussions you can’t stop thinking about.
Which leads to even deeper interest.
Before long, you’re asking questions your professor can’t answer.
You’re thinking of ways to apply your ideas, to make them
more relevant to the world — more Swarthmore.
Book IconVisit Swarthmore Faculty

WHAT IS
MOTIVATION?

It’s not something imposed on you. That’s prescription.
It’s not a superficial reward. That’s a pat on the head.
It’s not something dangled in front of you. That’s a carrot.
Then again, it’s hard to motivate in a vacuum.
That’s why the quality of the people around you makes such a difference.
Everyone at Swarthmore is on an intellectual journey:
the students, to find their calling — undauntedly and omnivorously;
the faculty, to share and deepen knowledge, to arrive
at creation through imagination, to help students become
scholars and leaders and doers.
Swarthmore professors are passionate about what they teach.
Their courses are invitations to go on a journey together.
If you have a strong attraction to a subject, seeing it from a professor’s perspective can validate your interest. That leads to even greater involvement, which leads to the kind of discussions you can’t stop thinking about.
Which leads to even deeper interest.
Before long, you’re asking questions your professor can’t answer.
You’re thinking of ways to apply your ideas, to make them
more relevant to the world — more Swarthmore.
Book IconVisit Swarthmore Faculty
ADVANCED ARABIC • URBAN ECONOMICS •
EPIGENETICS • VISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY •
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE • EXISTENTIALISM
Swarthmore student walking on campus
Swarthmore student sitting in classroom
Swarthmore professor standing in front of a class of students
Swarthmore students working with goggles on
Swarthmore student working on assignment at desk
Swarthmore instructor laughing with student
“YOU CAN’T LEAVE THIS PLACE without UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THE WORLD AND YOUR PLACE IN IT.”
THE ARTS AS SOCIAL CHANGE • COMEDY •
ANATOMY: BONES, MUSCLES, MOVEMENT
• MODERN AMERICAN POETRY • ENGINEERING
DESIGN • ELEMENTS OF MUSICIANSHIP •
TV AND NEW MEDIA • QUANTUM MECHANICS
• POLITICAL THEORY • ACTING • PLATO
Swarthmore student gesturing to his presentation
“I don’t want to be really good at just one thing.
I want to know about a lot of things.”

TO LEARN
IS TO DARE.

If you’re like most Swatties, you’ve worked really hard to prepare for college. So in your first semester at Swarthmore, we want you to explore without worrying about your grades. The benefits are obvious: You’ll get to sample a variety of courses from our curriculum — unmatched among liberal arts colleges of similar size — opening your eyes to new academic possibilities. And you’ll have a chance to adjust to college life and achieve a balance between coursework and everything else. (Who knows how many extracurriculars are too many until you try a few?) Here’s how it works.
Flowchart presenting an interaction where Swarthmore is encouraging a first semester student to take classes that are different from their career agenda
Wooden door

An exceptional
Honors
Program

Swarthmore’s Honors Program (learn more here) is the only one of its kind in the United States. Intimate seminars and independent research culminate in written and oral exams administered by visiting experts.

A liberating
pass/fail
semester

Our first-semester credit/no credit grading policy (learn more here) eases the transition to college and encourages academic exploration.

Intensive
research
opportunities

Nearly two-thirds of students take part in undergraduate research projects across the academic spectrum with support and mentorship from faculty members. Significant funding is available for summer research.
Gardening supplies on shelf
View Interactive Graph
It’s time to choose classes.

What are you going to take?
I will stick to topics that relate in a dull and direct way to my unwavering career agenda.
Hmmm . . .
Seems like a missed opportunity to sow your intellectual oats.
Don’t you want to live a little?
Sorta. But Swarthmore is super hard, right?
Yes, but you are really smart.
But what if I get a low grade or something? Won’t that basically ruin me?
Take heart in knowing that
your first-semester classes are credit/no credit (our version of Pass/Fail).
We don’t rank students, and we don’t provide grades on your first-semester transcripts, either.
You mean I can explore topics that actually interest me, expose myself to new disciplines, challenge myself silly, and discover potentially life-changing passions — without being frozen by the stultifying fear of failure?
LET YOUR CUP RUNNETH OVER.
(Feel free to indulge.)
Don’t you worry. I’m just getting started.
This place is an endless intellectual buffet.
I am going to sample one of everything.
THAT’S THE SPIRIT.
We hope you’re hungry.
My education until now has been a wonderful appetizer.
WAIT TILL YOU sample the PSYCHOLOGY.
It looks sublime. I also can’t wait for the critical and cultural theory. My mental gourmand salivates at the very thought of it.
LET YOUR CUP RUNNETH OVER.
(Feel free to indulge.)
Don’t you worry. I’m just getting started.
I will stick to topics that relate in a dull and direct way to my unwavering career agenda.
Hmmm . . .
Seems like a missed opportunity to sow your intellectual oats.
Don’t you want to live a little?
Sorta. But Swarthmore is super hard, right?
Yes, but you are really smart.
But what if I get a low grade or something? Won’t that basically ruin me?
Take heart in knowing that
your first-semester classes are credit/no credit (our version of Pass/Fail).
We don’t rank students, and we don’t provide grades on your first-semester transcripts, either.
You mean I can explore topics that actually interest me, expose myself to new disciplines, challenge myself silly, and discover potentially life-changing passions — without being frozen by the stultifying fear of failure?
LET YOUR CUP RUNNETH OVER.
(Feel free to indulge.)
Don’t you worry. I’m just getting started.
OR
This place is an endless intellectual buffet.
I am going to sample one of everything.
THAT’S THE SPIRIT.
We hope you’re hungry.
My education until now has been a wonderful appetizer.
WAIT TILL YOU sample the PSYCHOLOGY.
It looks sublime. I also can’t wait for the critical and cultural theory. My mental gourmand salivates at the very thought of it.
LET YOUR CUP RUNNETH OVER.
(Feel free to indulge.)
Don’t you worry. I’m just getting started.

BRING YOUR INTELLECT.

NOW SHARE IT.

So you’re a chatty introvert.
Or maybe you’re a contemplative extrovert. Either way, you’ll feel right at home.
The joy that Swarthmore students feel in pursuing the life of the mind is exponentially increased when they do it together.
Our campus thrives on open dialogue, simultaneous discovery, and collaborative exploration.
Whether in the classroom or the dining hall, in the dorms or on the sun-drenched lawn of Parrish Hall, conversations here tend to challenge, inspire, and enlighten. Have an opinion? You’ll get plenty of practice defending it. Unsure where you stand on an issue? Check in with yourself an hour later.
Mention your latest project to fellow Swatties — even if they don’t share your major — and they’ll want to know more about it. Why did it capture your interest? What are the ramifications, implications, and applications? How might it relate to what they’re studying? Can they join you in class . . . ?

BRING YOUR INTELLECT.

NOW SHARE IT.

So you’re a chatty introvert.
Or maybe you’re a contemplative extrovert. Either way, you’ll feel right at home.
The joy that Swarthmore students feel in pursuing the life of the mind is exponentially increased when they do it together.
Our campus thrives on open dialogue, simultaneous discovery, and collaborative exploration.
Whether in the classroom or the dining hall, in the dorms or on the sun-drenched lawn of Parrish Hall, conversations here tend to challenge, inspire, and enlighten. Have an opinion? You’ll get plenty of practice defending it. Unsure where you stand on an issue? Check in with yourself an hour later.
Mention your latest project to fellow Swatties — even if they don’t share your major — and they’ll want to know more about it. Why did it capture your interest? What are the ramifications, implications, and applications? How might it relate to what they’re studying? Can they join you in class . . . ?
students having class outside
MY LINGUISTICS CLASS COMPLETELY changed THE WAY I LOOK AT my ACCENT TODAY. i just saw the best sunset over “we talk a lot.” crum woods. see how that song fits how that song fits with my research topic? try fencing sometime. it really focuses the mind.
woman eating cupcake at event
man giving speech at podium
two students sitting in class
girl doing homework
student presenting
student sitting at desk and smiling

research CENTRAL.

A collection of more than 500,000 e-books, nearly 75,000 online journals, and more books than anyone could ever read, our libraries draw students together for conversation and caffeine — and for inspiration as they launch into the next project or paper. Concerned about textbook costs? Swarthmore’s tuition includes a $700 allowance for all students toward the cost of required course materials.

Sample Research Projects
Urban Agriculture and Land-Use Policy | Alternative, Low-Power, Computer Architectures | Twi Language Research (in Ghana) | Mathematical Modeling for HIV/AIDS Virus | Designing a Polarizing Variable Angle Spectrometer
Book IconVisit Swarthmore Research
“THOSE MOMENTS IN CONVERSATION WHEN A PROFESSOr JUST ‘GETS’ YOU — REALLY UNDERSTANDS WHO YOU ARE — THEY MEAN EVERYTHING.”
student getting tutored in math next to wall sized chalkboard
“THOSE MOMENTS IN CONVERSATION WHEN A PROFESSOr JUST ‘GETS’ YOU — REALLY UNDERSTANDS WHO YOU ARE — THEY MEAN EVERYTHING.”

MAKING IT WORK.

As one of only a few liberal arts colleges with an engineering department, Swarthmore gains an added dimension — and so do its students. Engineering students and faculty provide a problem-solving example to the rest of the community. In turn, the College’s fusion of technical and liberal education arms engineering students with communication skills — as well as a deep understanding of the social and economic implications of their projects — that can prove invaluable in distinguishing them from others in the workplace.

Half of our engineering students double major, often in non-natural science areas, because they have the flexibility to do so — and can do it in four years.
Wheel IconVisit Swarthmore Engineering
Think of Magill Walk as Swarthmore’s red carpet. It welcomes you with grand flourish every season as you walk to Parrish Hall from the Campus & Community Store or the train station at the foot of campus.
Flower IconTake a Swarthmore Campus Tour

Is
Swarthmore
Affordable?

It is. Our strong financial aid program makes sure of it. During the 2019–2020 academic year, we invested nearly $46 million in Swarthmore need-based aid — and 55% of students received assistance through the College on the basis of determined financial need. Consider this: Because of our generous financial support, which does not include loans, the average aided Swattie pays less than the cost of tuition at many state colleges or universities.
Flowchart describing Swarthmore's financial aid system and how the school is affordable to all kinds of students
Key IconVisit Swarthmore Admissions Aid
View Interactive Graph
WE have the resources

and a commitment to help you.
As for you:

Are you a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or undocumented student?
Yes.
Good to know.
When we review your application for admission, we focus entirely on what makes you tick and not at all on your family’s resources.
We simply don’t consider
HOW much aid you need
in deciding to admit you.
I have applied for admission.
The wait is excruciating.
Sorry. We think really hard about these things. Time passes.
The envelope arrives.
And . . . !
OMG! YOU’VE BEEN ADMITTED TO SWARTHMORE!!!
Text your parents, call your grandma, and bust out the sparkling cider.
But what about aid?
We use various forms to determine how much funding you need and then
WE PROVIDE the financial SUPPORT YOU NEED TO MAKE SWARTHMORE POSSIBLE!
Hey, thanks. Will my aid award contain a student loan?
NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF ONE.
Our aid awards are made up of grants (money you do not need to pay back) and the opportunity to earn money working in a part-time College job.
Yes. But . . .
if I want to borrow more for whatever reason, can I?
YES.
Some students choose to borrow to offset their family’s share of the costs.
What does that really mean?
Swatties graduate owing comparatively little loan debt, which they take on by choice.
Speak plainly, please.
Swarthmore students get the financial support they need, don’t borrow much, earn great jobs, and find they are able to pay back their debts. In other words . . .
YOu can do this. swarthmore is affordable.
No.
OK.
We take your family’s financial circumstances into consideration.
WE DO offer financial aid FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
I have applied for admission.
The wait is excruciating.
Sorry. We think really hard about these things. Time passes.
The envelope arrives.
And . . . !
OMG! YOU’VE BEEN ADMITTED TO SWARTHMORE!!!
Text your parents, call your grandma, and bust out the sparkling cider.
But what about aid?
We use various forms to determine how much funding you need and then
WE PROVIDE the financial SUPPORT YOU NEED TO MAKE SWARTHMORE POSSIBLE!
Hey, thanks.
Will my aid award contain a student loan?
NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF ONE.
Our aid awards are made up of grants (money you do not need to pay back) and the opportunity to earn money working in a part-time College job.
Yes. But . . .
if I want to borrow more
for whatever reason, can I?
YES.
Some students choose to borrow to offset their family’s share of the costs.
What does that really mean?
Swatties graduate owing comparatively little loan debt, which they take on by choice.
Speak plainly, please.
Swarthmore students get the financial support they need, don’t borrow much, earn great jobs, and find they are able to pay back their debts. In other words . . .
YOu can do this. swarthmore is affordable.
Yes.
Good to know.
When we review your application for admission, we focus entirely on what makes you tick and not at all on your family’s resources.
We simply don’t consider
HOW much aid you need
in deciding to admit you.
I have applied for admission.
The wait is excruciating.
Sorry. We think really hard about these things. Time passes.
The envelope arrives.
And . . . !
OMG! YOU’VE BEEN ADMITTED TO SWARTHMORE!!!
Text your parents, call your grandma, and bust out the sparkling cider.
But what about aid?
We use various forms to determine how much funding you need and then
WE PROVIDE the financial SUPPORT YOU NEED TO MAKE SWARTHMORE POSSIBLE!
Hey, thanks. Will my aid award contain a student loan?
NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF ONE.
Our aid awards are made up of grants (money you do not need to pay back) and the opportunity to earn money working in a part-time College job.
Yes. But . . .
if I want to borrow more for whatever reason, can I?
YES.
Some students choose to borrow to offset their family’s share of the costs.
What does that really mean?
Swatties graduate owing comparatively little loan debt, which they take on by choice.
Speak plainly, please.
Swarthmore students get the financial support they need, don’t borrow much, earn great jobs, and find they are able to pay back their debts. In other words . . .
YOu can do this. swarthmore is affordable.
OR
No.
OK.
We take your family’s financial circumstances into consideration.
WE DO offer financial aid FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
I have applied for admission.
The wait is excruciating.
Sorry. We think really hard about these things. Time passes.
The envelope arrives.
And . . . !
OMG! YOU’VE BEEN ADMITTED TO SWARTHMORE!!!
Text your parents, call your grandma, and bust out the sparkling cider.
But what about aid?
We use various forms to determine how much funding you need and then
WE PROVIDE the financial SUPPORT YOU NEED TO MAKE SWARTHMORE POSSIBLE!
Hey, thanks.
Will my aid award contain a student loan?
NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF ONE.
Our aid awards are made up of grants (money you do not need to pay back) and the opportunity to earn money working in a part-time College job.
Yes. But . . .
if I want to borrow more
for whatever reason, can I?
YES.
Some students choose to borrow to offset their family’s share of the costs.
What does that really mean?
Swatties graduate owing comparatively little loan debt, which they take on by choice.
Speak plainly, please.
Swarthmore students get the financial support they need, don’t borrow much, earn great jobs, and find they are able to pay back their debts. In other words . . .
YOu can do this. swarthmore is affordable.

CONNECT.

Interactivity. Interdependence. Interdiscovery. That’s the Swarthmore community — and whatever your passion, there’s a portal, podium, position, or place for you here.
Because this community is so tightly knit, what you do matters to those around you. You’re not joined at the hip — or even at the hand — but by all you have in common.
That means that even if you’re not studying physics, you’ll know someone who is. That when you tune in to WSRN 91.5 FM, you might not know the DJ, but you might recognize her voice from a conversation in a club meeting. That whether or not you typically enjoy sci-fi role-playing, you’ll probably want to join in the annual Pterodactyl Hunt.
students say hi with a high-five at an outdoor event

CONNECT.

Interactivity. Interdependence. Interdiscovery. That’s the Swarthmore community — and whatever your passion, there’s a portal, podium, position, or place for you here.
Because this community is so tightly knit, what you do matters to those around you. You’re not joined at the hip — or even at the hand — but by all you have in common.
That means that even if you’re not studying physics, you’ll know someone who is. That when you tune in to WSRN 91.5 FM, you might not know the DJ, but you might recognize her voice from a conversation in a club meeting. That whether or not you typically enjoy sci-fi role-playing, you’ll probably want to join in the annual Pterodactyl Hunt.

SHAPING the SELF.

Self-discovery: At Swarthmore, it’s communal. As paradoxical as that may sound, it’s true in more ways than one. In processing feedback from faculty and peers, students sharpen their personal visions. In collaborating with others, they build self-reliance. In finding mentors, they discover themselves.

student and instructor discussing art in class
two male students in lab; an instructor in the middle of a lecture

“STUDENTS, FACULTY, and coaches BECOME ‘REAL people’ TO ONE ANOTHER AS THEY PURSUE COMMON OBJECTIVEs.”

the women's field hockey team stands in a huddle
coach talking to basketball team on the court in the school gym

high-octane
SEMINARS.

The apotheosis of Swarthmore’s liberal arts environment, the College’s Honors Program represents intellectual inquiry at its highest levels: student-focused seminars with all the excitement of graduate study. Students draw on the broad context of four years of knowledge during watershed discussions. Honors seminars offer challenge redefined with only positive connotations and praise that is truly objective — and therefore truly earned.
Flowchart describing the thrills and uniqueness of the Honors Program
School IconVisit Swarthmore Honors Program
View Interactive Graph
Now that you’ve read that scintillating essay over there,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT the honors program?
Isn’t EVERY course at Swarthmore at the honors level?
Excellent point. Yes. But the Honors Program is truly special. Like the Grand Canyon or Gritty,
There’s nothing else like it in america.
Please continue.
The Honors Program offers juniors and seniors the opportunity to participate in
Small, INTENSIVE, individualized seminars! advanced exploration of specialized topics! unparalleled access to world-class faculty! True intellectual freedom! AND endless DOSES OF unfiltered ADRENALINE!!!
Do you need to sit down for a minute?
Sorry. Whew. The Honors Program does that to me.
AND I HAVEN’T EVEN TOLD YOU the best part!
Could I stop you if I wanted to?
right before they graduate, honors candidates are evaluated by Visiting examiners —
leading scholars and experts from every field and industry!
And why is that so great?
You know you’ve truly mastered a topic when you have to defend your ideas to a group of brilliant strangers.
That sounds terrifying.
I mean thrilling.
I mean terrifying.
Exactly! Are you In?
I’m in.
That’s what we hoped you would say.
time to BUCKLE your seat belt.
Let’s do this.
I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
How about you turn the page? Have a snack and come back when you are feeling rested.
Isn’t EVERY course at Swarthmore at the honors level?
Excellent point. Yes. But the Honors Program is truly special. Like the Grand Canyon or Gritty,
There’s nothing else like it in america.
Please continue.
The Honors Program offers juniors and seniors the opportunity to participate in
Small, INTENSIVE, individualized seminars! advanced exploration of specialized topics! unparalleled access to world-class faculty! True intellectual freedom! AND endless DOSES OF unfiltered ADRENALINE!!!
Do you need to sit down for a minute?
Sorry. Whew. The Honors Program does that to me.
AND I HAVEN’T EVEN TOLD YOU the best part!
Could I stop you if I wanted to?
right before they graduate, honors candidates are evaluated by Visiting examiners —
leading scholars and experts from every field and industry!
And why is that so great?
You know you’ve truly mastered a topic when you have to defend your ideas to a group of brilliant strangers.
That sounds terrifying.
I mean thrilling.
I mean terrifying.
Exactly! Are you In?
I’m in.
That’s what we hoped you would say.
time to BUCKLE your seat belt.
Let’s do this.
OR
I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
How about you turn the page? Have a snack and come back when you are feeling rested.

So . . . how are we doing?

Despite my reservations about promotional brochures, I have learned a few things about Swarthmore.

And . . . ?

My reservations have temporarily deserted me.

Excellent. Do you need anything else?

A little peace and quiet.

Look around.
This campus is an actual arboretum.

No joke?

It was recently named the most beautiful campus in the known universe.

That’s quite the accolade. But still, I’ve got a stack of beautiful brochures filled with pretty pictures.

But do they have stunning, serene amphitheaters like this one?

It really is quite lovely. I’m feeling a little misty.

Do you need a tissue?

Thanks.

grass amphitheater with students sitting

A QUAKER TRADITION.

In the spirit of the College’s founders, who emphasized the practical application of knowledge for the common good, Swarthmore students strive to make the most of their opportunities and abilities. They create technology that enables people to track food donations. They design and build structures for reflection and contemplation. They work to initiate positive change. It all begins with First Collection, a candle-lighting ceremony at the start of the academic year.

three students holding candles, enjoying First Collection

Act on your vision.

How will your experiences as a Swattie show on your face? Maybe you’ll link research with experience through a community-based learning course — working with an arts organization in Philadelphia, for example.

Or maybe you’ll receive a grant for an internship with a nonprofit and surprise yourself at how many hats you can wear — simultaneously. (How many hats do you have, anyway?) Or volunteer in a program that connects you with an adult or child with physical disabilities, redefining the way you see your own abilities. (More examples here.) Prepare to insert yourself into the real world in whatever ways are possible. Act, reflect, and process. Change, improve, and act some more. And don’t forget to enjoy the journey.

Students painting a mural
Act on your vision.

How will your experiences as a Swattie show on your face? Maybe you’ll link research with experience through a community-based learning course — working with an arts organization in Philadelphia, for example.

Or maybe you’ll receive a grant for an internship with a nonprofit and surprise yourself at how many hats you can wear — simultaneously. (How many hats do you have, anyway?) Or volunteer in a program that connects you with an adult or child with physical disabilities, redefining the way you see your own abilities. (More examples here.) Prepare to insert yourself into the real world in whatever ways are possible. Act, reflect, and process. Change, improve, and act some more. And don’t forget to enjoy the journey.

“Service is pervasive. It’s part of the culture.”

Students planting trees in a volunteer service program

“Service is pervasive. It’s part of the culture.”

Students planting trees in a volunteer service program
Dragon IconVisit Swarthmore Lang Center
a group of Swarthmore students and faculty smiling with young students
A student working out a problem on a chalkboard
a faculty talking with each other during lunch
recruiting students for to join a club

Swarthmore educates future leaders in issues such as energy efficiency, Health care reform, climate Change, racial and criminal justice, and gender equity.

a student closing the door or a van
a black student's profile
lining a trash can with a bag during a clean-up event

Balance? great for sanity,

but hard on the ankles.

Balance? great for sanity, but hard on the ankles.

KICK
BACK.

Place yourself in a stimulating living environment with a bunch of curious overachievers, and what happens? Sometimes you just need some mindless entertainment. Other times the conversations carry you into realms as fascinating as the classroom. People who might not share your interests capture your interest. Here, you’ll find that residence halls acquire community and character. Every corner of campus takes on special meaning. At the same time, you’ll learn that how you furnish your mind is more important than how you furnish your room. You’ll come to understand that the resident assistants in your hall are resources — not hall monitors. And that, with a mix of class years in most residence halls, diversity here is not just about what you look like and where you come from, but also what you’ve experienced. And you’ll be in awe of it all.

At Swarthmore, you could try to compartmentalize academic and social life, but you’ll quickly discover that you don’t want to. You’ll socialize in study areas and study in your living space. You’ll commiserate with friends about how busy you all are, and then you’ll join another student group. And when it’s time to graduate, you’ll probably say you learned at least as much outside of class meetings as in them.

IconVisit Swarthmore Campus Life
People looking up at the screen
KICK
BACK.
Place yourself in a stimulating living environment with a bunch of curious overachievers, and what happens? Sometimes you just need some mindless entertainment. Other times the conversations carry you into realms as fascinating as the classroom. People who might not share your interests capture your interest. Here, you’ll find that residence halls acquire community and character. Every corner of campus takes on special meaning. At the same time, you’ll learn that how you furnish your mind is more important than how you furnish your room. You’ll come to understand that the resident assistants in your hall are resources — not hall monitors. And that, with a mix of class years in most residence halls, diversity here is not just about what you look like and where you come from, but also what you’ve experienced. And you’ll be in awe of it all.

At Swarthmore, you could try to compartmentalize academic and social life, but you’ll quickly discover that you don’t want to. You’ll socialize in study areas and study in your living space. You’ll commiserate with friends about how busy you all are, and then you’ll join another student group. And when it’s time to graduate, you’ll probably say you learned at least as much outside of class meetings as in them.

IconVisit Swarthmore Campus Life
SWING DANCE CLUB • ULTIMATE FRISBEE •
THE PHOENIX NEWS paper • film society
• mock trial • KNIT-WITS • BRIDGE CLUB
Students with computers
Man and his drums
Dancing Class
Woman in art class
Women in tournament
Softball

“ONCE YOUR EYES ARE OPENED, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE INVOLVED.”

ENVIRONMENTAL Justice • GOSPEL
CHOIR • FORUM FOR free speech • DRAMA
board • russian club • swarthmore
business association • WSRN RADIO
GLOBAL NEIGHBORS • VERTIGO-GO improv
comedy • women’s rugby club teams
When students live at Swarthmore, “home” isn’t confined to the residence halls. The entire campus is a well-integrated living space: a relaxed mix of being and doing.

“There are so many opportunities.”

Typically, 40% of Swarthmore students are involved in sports at some level, and 25% participate in varsity intercollegiate athletics as part of the Centennial Conference — competing against such opponents as Johns Hopkins University and archrival Haverford College.

“I HONESTLY CAN’T THINK OF A student WHO JUST DOES ACADEMICS.”

Running Woman
“I HONESTLY CAN’T THINK OF A PERSON WHO JUST DOES ACADEMICS.”
Running Woman
Volleyball
Soccer field
Happy Students
Yoga classes
NCAA trophy
Man getting ball adjusted for his golf play
Soccer
Baseball
Yoga classes
NCAA trophy
Man getting ball adjusted for his golf play
Soccer
Dragon IconVisit Swarthmore Wellness
Student working in field

“You are required to grow into something.

Guys having fun in water

THE INNER LANDSCAPE.

From First Collection, when students mark their beginning at the College, to Commencement, Swarthmore students evolve in every way — forming bonds that deepen throughout their lives.

You don’t just stay the same way.”

“Swarthmore gives you what you need to put yourself out there.”

Move
Beyond.

Recent Internships

African Leadership Academy
(Johannesburg, South Africa)

BlackRock
(New York, N.Y.)

Brookings Institution
(Washington, D.C.)

Christie’s
(New York, N.Y.)

Creative Artists Agency
(Los Angeles, Calif.)

Cyclotron Institute
(College Station, Texas)

Eastspring Investments
(Seoul, South Korea)

Google
(Mountain View, Calif.)

International Center of Photography
(New York, N.Y.)

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
(London, England)

Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing
(Cologne, Germany)

NASA’s Langley Research Center
(Hampton, Va.)

National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Md.)

Salesforce.com
(San Francisco, Calif.)

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
(Panama City, Panama)

Univision
(New York, N.Y.)

U.S. Tax Court
(Washington, D.C.)

Move
Beyond.

Recent Internships

African Leadership Academy
(Johannesburg, South Africa)

BlackRock
(New York, N.Y.)

Brookings Institution
(Washington, D.C.)

Christie’s
(New York, N.Y.)

Creative Artists Agency
(Los Angeles, Calif.)

Cyclotron Institute
(College Station, Texas)

Eastspring Investments
(Seoul, South Korea)

Google
(Mountain View, Calif.)

International Center of Photography
(New York, N.Y.)

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
(London, England)

Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing
(Cologne, Germany)

NASA’s Langley Research Center
(Hampton, Va.)

National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Md.)

Salesforce.com
(San Francisco, Calif.)

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
(Panama City, Panama)

Univision
(New York, N.Y.)

U.S. Tax Court
(Washington, D.C.)

The path from the beauty and tranquility of Swarthmore’s campus to the adventure and opportunity of the wider world is shorter than you might think. Each fall, the iconic film The Graduate is screened on the lawn in front of Parrish Hall, and each fall, the film reminds students to contemplate the rest of their lives. Fortunately, as Swatties, the power to make meaningful choices is theirs. Like them, you’ll have internship opportunities (more examples here) that either point to career possibilities or lead you away from that thing you always thought you wanted to do.

With Philadelphia 25 minutes away and a train station at the foot of campus, life-shaping experiences are within easy reach. On or off campus, internships can be instrumental — such as with the student who, partly on the strength of helping to build a database of Crum Woods ecological data, was offered a position at Google. The bottom line: Swarthmore prepares you for anything and everything. From biomedical researchers to software company presidents and founders of nonprofits, our alumni are equipped to make the most of where they’ve been — and make sense of what they haven’t yet seen.

AFTER
Swarthmore

Students who graduated in Swarthmore’s Class of 2020 entered the following fields in their first jobs after graduation:

  • Finance & Consulting
29%
  • Technology/ Engineering
27%
  • Research
21%
  • Law
8%
  • Public Service
7%
  • Education
6%
Employers of recent Swarthmore graduates:

  • Amazon.com
  • Apple, Inc.
  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Brookings Institution
  • Capital One
  • Center for Applied Linguistics
  • Comcast
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Federal Reserve Bank of New York
  • Field Museum of Natural History
  • Fine Arts Work Center
  • Moody’s Analytics
  • Microsoft, Inc.
  • Ministry of Education (Singapore)
  • National Human Genome Research Institute
  • National Public Radio
  • Netflix
  • Northrop Grumman
  • Peace Corps
  • Principal Financial Group
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • Sotheby’s
  • Space Telescope Science Institute
  • Standard & Poor’s
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Department of State
  • Venmo
  • Walnut Street Theatre
Graduate schools most frequently attended by Swarthmore alumni:

  • Boston University
  • Brown University
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Columbia University
  • Duke University
  • Georgetown University
  • Harvard University
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • New York University
  • Northwestern University
  • Princeton University
  • Stanford University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Virginia
  • Yale University
AFTER
Swarthmore

Students who graduated in Swarthmore’s Class of 2020 entered the following fields in their first jobs after graduation:

  • Finance & Consulting
29%
  • Technology/ Engineering
27%
  • Research
21%
  • Law
8%
  • Public Service
7%
  • Education
6%
Employers of recent Swarthmore graduates:

  • Amazon.com
  • Apple, Inc.
  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Brookings Institution
  • Capital One
  • Center for Applied Linguistics
  • Comcast
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Federal Reserve Bank of New York
  • Field Museum of Natural History
  • Fine Arts Work Center
  • Moody’s Analytics
  • Microsoft, Inc.
  • Ministry of Education (Singapore)
  • National Human Genome Research Institute
  • National Public Radio
  • Netflix
  • Northrop Grumman
  • Peace Corps
  • Principal Financial Group
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • Sotheby’s
  • Space Telescope Science Institute
  • Standard & Poor’s
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Department of State
  • Venmo
  • Walnut Street Theatre
Graduate schools most frequently attended by Swarthmore alumni:

  • Boston University
  • Brown University
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Columbia University
  • Duke University
  • Georgetown University
  • Harvard University
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • New York University
  • Northwestern University
  • Princeton University
  • Stanford University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Virginia
  • Yale University
“Swarthmore prepares you for the world. If the world happens to be grad school, that’s fine. If it happens to be some fabulous job in some COMPLETELY RANDOM place, that’s also fine.”
Road IconVisit Swarthmore Career Services
Students talking outside building

Against my better judgment, I read the whole book. Are you happy?

PLEASED AS PUNCH.

If you play your cards right, I might just apply.

EXCELLENT! NOW . . . BEFORE WE WRAP UP, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW?

The application process is vexing. Might you share some insider tips?

WE THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER ASK. Where shall we start?

How about the essay? Is it basically there to make me suffer?

NOT AT ALL! (At least we hope it doesn’t.) IT IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU TO SHOW US WHO YOU REALLY ARE underneath all the grades and courses and such — not just your accomplishments, but what you value, what you’ve learned from your mistakes, how you’ve grown.

This is good stuff. What else?

Make sure your recommendations are written by the teachers who really know you and how you think — not just the ones who gave you the best grades.

Makes sense. Do continue.

Take the most challenging course of study you think you can manage. Apply to a range of places with varying levels of selectivity. And don’t take this process personally. However it turns out, you’ll find a great place to land.

Aww, thanks. Are you just trying to butter me up?

MAYBE JUST A LITTLE.

I appreciate it.

YOU’RE WELCOME.

Flowers on campus
Flowers on campus

A renowned
LIBERAL
ARTS
education

Among the nation’s premier private colleges, founded in 1864 by Quakers who were passionate about the women’s rights and anti-slavery movements, Swarthmore offers a coeducational, academically vigorous undergraduate experience.
Peter van de Kamp Observatory
Swarthmore campus

425
stunningly
beautiful
acres

Eleven miles — less than a 30-minute train ride — from Philadelphia, Swarthmore’s campus consists of venerable buildings made of Pennsylvania fieldstone on an arboretum landscaped with more than 4,000 species of plants.

More than 40
majors
and
programs

Swatties who wish to pursue a career in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or law receive personalized guidance about course selection from expert advisers in the Health Sciences Office and the Pre-Law Office.
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Arabic
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Asian Studies
  • Astronomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Black Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese
  • Classics
  • Cognitive Science
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computer Science
  • Dance
  • Design Your Own Major
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Engineering
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film & Media Studies
  • French & Francophone Studies
  • Gender & Sexuality Studies
  • German Studies
  • Global Studies
  • Greek
  • History
  • Interpretation Theory
  • Islamic Studies
  • Japanese
  • Latin
  • Latin American & Latino Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematics
  • Medieval Studies
  • Modern Languages & Literatures
  • Music
  • Peace & Conflict Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Russian
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Theater
Students walking in the snow on campus

Accomplished,
accessible
faculty

Swarthmore has 194 full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members, 98% of whom have a terminal degree in their field. Our student-faculty ratio is 8:1.

A diverse
CAMPUS COMMUNITY

In 2019–2020, the College’s 1,667 undergraduates came from 49 states and 78 countries. Their racial/ethnic distribution was:

  • African American
8%
  • American Indian/Native Alaskan
<1%
  • Asian
15%
  • Hispanic
13%
  • International/ Undocumented
14%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
<1%
  • Race/ethnicity unreported
4%
  • Two or more races
8%
  • White
38%

Swarthmore welcomes and affirms students of all races, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, abilities, citizenship status, and geographic locations. Our admitted Class of 2025 included:

  • First generation to college
30%
  • Community-based organization participants
34%
  • Public or charter school students
65%
  • Rural public school attendees
5%
Professor teaching a class
Wooden door

An exceptional
Honors
Program

Swarthmore’s Honors Program (learn more here) is the only one of its kind in the United States. Intimate seminars and independent research culminate in written and oral exams administered by visiting experts.

A liberating
pass/fail
semester

Our first-semester credit/no credit grading policy (learn more here) eases the transition to college and encourages academic exploration.

Intensive
research
opportunities

Nearly two-thirds of students take part in undergraduate research projects across the academic spectrum with support and mentorship from faculty members. Significant funding is available for summer research.
Gardening supplies on shelf
Students listening to a seminar

A wealth of
academic
support

  • Computer Science Student Mentors (“Ninjas”)
  • Dean’s Tutor Program (individual and group sessions for students with demonstrated academic need)
  • Engineering Academic Support (“Wizards” group study sessions)
  • Laboratory Teaching Assistants
  • Math & Stat Academic Support (“Pi-rates” and “Mu-ses”)
  • Office of Learning Resources (time-management and test-taking workshops)
  • Science Associates Program (collaborative problem solving)
  • Student Academic Mentors
  • Student Disability Services (accommodations to ensure full access and participation)
  • Writing Center (staffed by trained Writing Associates and Speaking Associates, who help peers improve their writing and public speaking skills)

Centers,
clubs,
and activities

Swarthmore provides resources for programs, initiatives, and more than 150 student-run clubs to support a diverse campus, such as:

  • ABLLE (Achieving Black and Latino Leaders of Excellence)
  • AMENA (Arab, Middle Eastern, North African students)
  • Black Cultural Center
  • COLORS (queer, trans, and questioning students of color)
  • Deshi (South Asian cultural group)
  • Drama Board
  • ENLACE (LatinX students)
  • First-Gen and Low-Income Students Council
  • HAN (Korean students)
  • HAPA (multiracial students with Asian ancestry)
  • i20 (International Students Organization)
  • Intercultural Center
  • Interfaith Center
  • International Student Center
  • Kizuna (Japanese Cultural Appreciation Club)
  • Multi (students of multicultural identities)
  • Muslim Students Association
  • Newman Catholic Campus Ministry
  • Organizing to Redefine Asian Activism
  • The Phoenix (newspaper)
  • QuestBridge Scholars
  • Small Craft Warnings (literary magazine)
  • Southeast Asian Student Association
  • Students of Caribbean Ancestry
Two people doing an interview
  • Swarthmore African Student Association
  • Swarthmore African-American Student Society
  • Swarthmore College Young Democrats
  • Swarthmore Conservative Society
  • Swarthmore Indigenous Students Association
  • Swarthmore Kehilah: Jewish Community
  • Swarthmore Progressive Christians
  • Swarthmore Quaker Society
  • Swarthmore Queer Union
  • Swarthmore Zero Waste
  • Tech for Social Good
  • Women’s Resource Center
  • WOCKA (Women of Color Kick Ass)

Recent speakers, performers, and visiting artists included noted authors Nikki Giovanni and Patricia Park ’03, justice advocate Bryan Stevenson, Broadway actress Renée Elise Goldsberry, global statesman David Miliband, visual artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby ’04, punk-rock art collective Pussy Riot, athlete and entrepreneur Malcolm Jenkins, and activist and author Sybrina Fulton.

Division III
ATHLETICS

Swarthmore is a member of the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference, and has 22 varsity teams:

Men’s

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field (indoor and outdoor)

Women’s

  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Field Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field (indoor and outdoor)
  • Volleyball

Students also participate on eight chartered club teams and in a wide range of intramural sports.

People playing soccer
Swarthmore campus building

Campus
FACILITIES
and resources

  • Greenhouse (supporting botanical research)
  • Hormel-Nguyen Intercultural Center at Sproul Hall (which brings the Intercultural Center together with the Interfaith Center and the International Student Center, along with programs and services that support the personal and intellectual development of Asian American, Latinx, multiracial, Native American, LGBTQ+, low-income, international, and first-generation college students)
  • Information technology (computer store and repair service)
  • Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility (service and community information and opportunities)
  • Lang Music Building (with 420-seat concert hall and 11 practice rooms)
  • Lang Performing Arts Center (with 825-seat Pearson-Hall Theatre, Frear Ensemble Theater, a black box experimental theater, Witky Boyer Dance Studio and Troy Dance Lab, and the List Art Gallery)
  • Language Center (audio, video, and computer resources)
  • Libraries
    – McCabe Library (main library, with 850,000 volumes, including the renowned Swarthmore College Peace Collection)
    – Friends Historical Library (Quaker collection)
    – Cornell Library of Science and Engineering
    – Underhill Music and Dance Library
  • The Matchbox Fitness Center (space supporting wellness, fitness, and theater programming)
  • Maxine Frank Singer Hall (new building of flexible classrooms and labs to connect the Biology, Engineering, and Psychology departments)
  • Scott Arboretum and Crum Woods (peaceful settings for recreation and contemplation)
  • Scott Outdoor Amphitheater (beautiful gathering space)
  • Van de Kamp Observatory (with 24-inch reflecting telescope)
  • Whittier Hall (primarily designed as academic and studio space for the Art Department)
Student on her computer in her dorm

SUSTAINABILITY
at Swarthmore

Even before the College began purchasing renewable energy credits in 1999, Swarthmore students and faculty members demonstrated a commitment to environmental sustainability. Today, the College’s sustainability efforts include a commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, a goal of diverting 80% of Swarthmore’s waste from a nearby incinerator by 2022, and sustainable building standards for new construction and major renovations of existing buildings.

Expanded
COURSE
OFFERINGS

Students may take courses at both Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, members of the Tri-College Consortium with Swarthmore. Cross-registration with the University of Pennsylvania is also possible.
Side of Maxine Frank Singer Hall
These extraordinary times remind us of the importance of community — of gathering together in shared physical spaces that promote reflection, rejuvenation, and relationship building. Maxine Frank Singer Hall (above) honors pioneering molecular biologist Maxine Singer ’52 — and is one of only a few science buildings named for a woman on an American college campus.
Students gathering in dorm

Comfortable
Housing and dining

Typically, about 95% of students live on campus in 18 residence halls, each with resident assistants who schedule programs and activities.

Sharples, the College’s dining hall, offers a variety of meal plans and strives to serve local and organic food, minimize food waste, and conserve water and energy. Coffee and snack bars are also available.

Students looking at map in a group

Study abroad
options

Nearly 40% of Swarthmore students participate in off-campus study for a year or a semester, either in programs administered by Swarthmore and taught by the College’s faculty and staff, or in one of many other affiliated or approved programs. Financial aid is portable to study abroad.

A variety of
Community-based
learning
courses

In community-based learning courses, students gain transformative experience. Such courses have included:

  • Community Arts Internship (interning at various arts organizations)
  • Literacy Research (doing field-based collaborative research)
  • Water Quality and Pollution Control (monitoring and analyzing local watersheds and interacting with municipalities and watershed NGOs)
  • Introduction to GIS for Social and Environmental Analysis (working with a variety of spatial databases)
  • Down But Not Out: The Social Problems of Philadelphia (contributing to an ongoing project at one of the city’s public schools)
  • Politics of Punishment (Swarthmore students learning alongside inmates in classes held inside a nearby state prison)
Swarthmore College North Entrance
Students walking through campus

INTERnshiPS/ EXternships

Recent internship sites have included:

  • American Red Cross
  • Barclays
  • Beth Israel Cancer Center
  • Centro Nueva Creación
  • Chester Housing Authority
  • Cooper University Hospital
  • DC Fiscal Policy Institute
  • First Person Arts
  • Foreign Policy Research Institute
  • “I Have a Dream” Foundation
  • Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law
  • Japan Center for International Exchange
  • Legal Aid Society of New York City
  • Muir Woods National Monument
  • National Hispanic Institute
  • OpenTable
  • Planned Parenthood/PA
  • Slate Magazine
  • UNICEF
  • We Care Solar
  • Women’s Law Project
  • The World Bank

The alumni-sponsored Extern Program encourages students to explore a variety of career fields by pairing them with alumni, providing on-site experience during winter break.

ADMISSION
and
FINANCIAL
AID

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Early Decision: Nov. 15
  • Winter Early Decision: Jan. 4
  • Regular Decision: Jan. 4
  • Transfer Applicants: April 1

Financial Aid
Fifty-five percent of our student body receives a total of nearly $46 million in need-based scholarship or grant aid from Swarthmore.

2019–2020 Billed Costs *

Tuition includes a $700 allowance for all students toward the cost of required course materials.

Tuition
$54,256
Room
$8,252
Board
$7,836
Student Activities Fee
$400
Total
$70,744
Average Aid Award
$56,048

* Due to the impacts of COVID-19, we are sharing the figures of 2019–2020, which better represent a typical year
at Swarthmore. Please refer to Swarthmore Financial Aid for more information.

In keeping with Swarthmore’s commitment to environmental sustainability, this viewbook has been printed on paper made from 100% post-consumer waste using vegetable-based inks.

The quotations throughout this book have been excerpted from conversations with current Swarthmore students and professors.

Nondiscrimination Policy: Swarthmore College does not discriminate in education or employment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, medical condition, pregnancy, disability, or any other legally protected status. This policy is consistent with relevant governmental statutes and regulations, including those pursuant to Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
07.2021
Swarthmore College logo
Thanks for reading our 2021 Viewbook!
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