Swarthmore Viewbook

You Hold
a lot of
Potential

We can help you achieve it.

;

“I’m considering Swarthmore.”

Whether or not you’ve said these words aloud, the very fact that you’re holding this book makes a statement of its own.

It says that you’re not afraid to work hard for what you care about. That you understand the power of a liberal arts degree against an unpredictable job market, even if you’re still discovering what “liberal arts” truly means. You belong at a college with a reputation for leading the way — and one that’s always open to hearing and being shaped by your ideas. Wherever you come from and whoever you want to be, you and the Swarthmore community have much to teach each other.

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 surprise party).

Affordability

Financial aid — without 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.

Our community of thinkers and doers —

of creators, dissectors, and debaters, of problem-finders and problem-solvers — becomes a part of you. 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 across disciplines and lead through collaboration. Whether that means engineering new technology, advancing sustainability research, starting a microfinance incubator, or combining psychology and art to study cognition, you’ll have what it takes to apply your liberal arts education with meaning and purpose.

“BEING IN THE SWARTHMORE COMMUNITY, BEING AROUND THAT LEVEL OF THINKING, ALLOWED ME TO GROW AND DEVELOP INTO THE PERSON I AM TODAY.”

Perspective

Flanked by the Hormel-Nguyen Intercultural Center, Swarthmore’s Clothier Hall looks out over Philadelphia, one of the largest cities 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.

During the past five years, 79% of Swarthmore students who applied were admitted to medical school (compared with a national average of 42%).

In the 2022–23 academic year, Swarthmore students earned FIVE Fulbright grants, a Watson Fellowship, two Goldwater Scholarships, a Gaither Junior Fellowship, and a Beinecke Scholarship.

During the past five years, 87% of Swarthmore students who applied were admitted to law school (compared with a national average of 72%).

close up of a brick building and a lamppost

Swarthmore ranks #3 among U.S. colleges and universities for number of students who go on to earn Ph.D.s.

FIVE alumni have won the Nobel Prize.

In the last decade, Swarthmore students and graduates earned 192 Churchill Scholarships, Fulbright Grants, Goldwater Scholarships, Marshall Scholarships, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowships, Mitchell Scholarships, National Science Foundation Research Fellowships, Truman Scholarhips, and Udall Scholarships.

student sitting in a lawn chair under a tree

Swarthmore student-athletes have received more than 350 All-American awards.

two Swarthmore softball players watching their team from the dugout

During the past five years, 79% of Swarthmore students who applied were admitted to medical school (compared with a national average of 42%).

In the 2022–23 academic year, Swarthmore students earned FIVE Fulbright grants, a Watson Fellowship, two Goldwater Scholarships, a Gaither Junior Fellowship, and a Beinecke Scholarship.

During the past five years, 87% of Swarthmore students who applied were admitted to law school (compared with a national average of 72%).

Swarthmore ranks #3 among U.S. colleges and universities for number of students who go on to earn Ph.D.s.

FIVE alumni have won the Nobel Prize.

In the last decade, Swarthmore students and graduates earned 192 Churchill Scholarships, Fulbright Grants, Goldwater Scholarships, Marshall Scholarships, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowships, Mitchell Scholarships, National Science Foundation Research Fellowships, Truman Scholarhips, and Udall Scholarships.

Swarthmore student-athletes have received more than 350 All-American awards.

During the past five years, 79% of Swarthmore students who applied were admitted to medical school (compared with a national average of 42%).

In the 2022–23 academic year, Swarthmore students earned FIVE Fulbright grants, a Watson Fellowship, two Goldwater Scholarships, a Gaither Junior Fellowship, and a Beinecke Scholarship.

During the past five years, 87% of Swarthmore students who applied were admitted to law school (compared with a national average of 72%).

Swarthmore ranks #3 among U.S. colleges and universities for number of students who go on to earn Ph.D.s.

FIVE alumni have won the Nobel Prize.

In the last decade, Swarthmore students and graduates earned 192 Churchill Scholarships, Fulbright Grants, Goldwater Scholarships, Marshall Scholarships, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowships, Mitchell Scholarships, National Science Foundation Research Fellowships, Truman Scholarhips, and Udall Scholarships.

Swarthmore student-athletes have received more than 350 All-American awards.

Challenging = fun

two students looking at another students project that involves a car battery and a light bulb

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

“Structural Studies of DNA Repeats Implicated in Cancer”

“How Can Classroom Practices Support the Development of Students’ Voices, Particularly Black Students’ Voices in Writing?”

“Native American Military Participation in World War I: What Kind of Victory?”

“Solar-Powered Art Installation”

teacher presenting a lesson on the projector in front of the class

two brick buildings and a tree with leaves turning orange

Swarthmore student planting in the school garden

swarthmore.edu/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 back.
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 inspiration through imagination, to help students become scholars, 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 that your professor has to ponder. You’re thinking of ways to apply your ideas, to make them more relevant to the world — more Swarthmore.

teacher sitting at her desk while speaking to the class

swarthmore.edu/faculty

group of Swarthmore students walking on campus

small dog wearing a red Swarthmore shirt

teacher standing at the front of a room giving a lecture

Swarthmore student looking at solar powered remote control car

Swarthmore student at a podium giving a presentation

Swarthmore students working on a project

“YOU CAN’T LEAVE THIS PLACE without UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THE WORLD AND YOUR PLACE IN IT.”

Swarthmore students eating popsicles and ice cream sandwiches

Swarthmore students eating lunch in a classroom while listening to someone talk on a microphone

two people walking with their arms around each other

close up of iron molded to look line vines and branches

three kids sitting on a large white chair

All throughout high school, I didn’t know how to answer the ‘What’s your favorite subject?’ prompt. I really liked everything. A liberal arts curriculum like Swarthmore’s let me explore every different facet and discover what it is I truly like.

Swarthmore students doing an artistic dance routine

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, all of your classes are credit/no credit (or pass/fail) because we want you to explore without worrying about grades. 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. Plus, you’ll have a chance to adapt to college life while discovering a balance between academics and extracurriculars that works for you. Here’s how we make it happen:

WHO CARES? HERE, WE ALL DO.

Let’s say you’ve made it to Swarthmore. Congrats! First things first, you deserve to give yourself some academic grace. So go ahead and take a class for no reason other than

“that sounds cool.”

Without the pressure of grades in that first semester, you’ll have the opportunity to unlock the fullest extent of your scholarly potential and challenge yourself in areas you might otherwise shy away from. Our liberal arts curriculum allows you to explore subjects that might pique your interest. And because it’s Swarthmore, everyone still works hard — but not at the expense of adjusting to college life.

In fact, a lot of our students end up double majoring or taking multiple minors, exploring wide breadths of topics during their time here. Do you want to become the next great mathematician, but also have a secret fascination with geology? Well, keep it a secret no longer, friend — we’ll support both avenues of study all the way. Trigonometry and tectonic movement never blended so well.

two Swarthmore students braiding the hair of another Swarthmore student and they eat lunch on the grass

Plus, Swarthmore is one of the few liberal arts colleges that also offers an accredited engineering program. Like, one out of 13 in the United States few. That means you can study engineering while also taking advantage of all the other benefits that come with a liberal arts education.

Have real, meaningful discussions in our small, Socratic-style seminars.

No huge lecture halls, just a group of students who really care. World-class faculty, too. Because undergraduates are our sole focus at Swarthmore, the research projects and faculty attention that might normally go to graduate students elsewhere are available to you, a valued collaborator. And when you need a break from the flurry of academic opportunities, you’re just steps away from countless trees (a whole arboretum’s worth) perfect for curling up with some light pleasure reading.

BRING YOUR INTELLECT.

then SHARE IT.

So you’re a chatty introvert. Or maybe you’re a contemplative extrovert.

Either way, you’ll feel right at home.

Whether in the classroom or the dining hall, in the residence halls 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.

Our campus thrives on open dialogue, simultaneous discovery, and collaborative exploration.

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 implications, applications, and ramifications? How might it relate to what they’re studying? Can they join you in class?

The joy that Swarthmore students feel in pursuing the life of the mind is exponentially increased when they do it together.

students using an outdoor chalkboard on Swarthmore campus

close up of a tree, lampposts, and concrete pillars

Swarthmore students talking amongst each other in the dining hall

two students in class having a discussion

student with a Swarthmore College sweatshirt giving a presentation

student presenting while holding a microphone

student having a discussion with her classmates

Research Central

A collection of more than 1.5 million titles with 10,000 journal subscriptions, 35,000 sound and video recordings, and 900,000 print holdings make up our libraries. They draw students together for conversation, caffeine, and inspiration as they launch into the next project or paper. Concerned about textbook costs? Swarthmore’s tuition includes a $790 annual allowance for all students to use toward the cost of required course materials.

Sample Research Projects

“Elements of Bach in the Compositions of Nina Simone” | “Using Drones to Assess the Health of Endangered Arabian Sea Humpback Whales” | “Exploring the Ovarian Cancer Odor Signature” | “Massive Star X-Ray Analysis”

student sitting at a table writing in their notebook

group of students working on an assignment together

swarthmore.edu/research

students in a classroom on their laptops

“THOSE MOMENTS IN CONVERSATION WHEN A PROFESSOr JUST ‘GETS’ YOU — REALLY UNDERSTANDS WHO YOU ARE — THEY MEAN EVERYTHING.”

Making it Work

students using a microscope in a science lab

student wearing protective goggles while working on a science project

two students wearing protective goggles while pouring something in a beaker

As one of only a few liberal arts colleges with an engineering department accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), Swarthmore engineers gain an added dimension. 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.

The College’s technical and liberal arts 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. For our campus community, the engineering department showcases the breadth of a liberal arts education.

swarthmore.edu/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.

swarthmore.edu/explore-swarthmore

IS swarthmore affordable?

It is. Our strong financial aid program makes sure of it. During the 2022–23 academic year, we provided nearly $48 million in institutional need-based aid — and 51% of students received aid through the College on the basis of determined financial need. Because of our generous financial support, which does not include loans, the average aided Swattie often pays less than the cost of tuition at many state colleges or universities.

If you’re starting to get excited about all you could do as a Swattie, don’t stop now. Together, we can make it happen. Students work very hard to get to Swarthmore; but once they’re admitted, we work just as hard to ensure we’re offering an education that’s accessible to all.

We consider a lot of things in our admission application review, but how much financial aid you need is not one of them. DACA recipients and undocumented graduates from U.S. high schools are treated like domestic applicants and considered on the same “need-blind” basis.

This is different if you’re an international student. We do take your family’s financial situation into account when you submit your College application (you’ll indicate whether or not you will apply for aid) — but unlike at many schools, admitted international students are eligible to be considered for financial aid regardless of their location.

three Swarthmore students on campus looking up

close up of lamppost and leaves on a tree

Swarthmore students doing work together while sitting out on the grass

When it comes time to award financial aid, our institutional methodology helps us assess the full picture of your family’s unique situation and determine the amount you need to make Swarthmore affordable for you. Once the numbers are crunched, we’re committed to meeting 100% of your determined financial need. The aid you’ll get from us is loan-free, meaning you don’t have to pay it back. You can also help offset some of the indirect cost of your education by working a part-time job at the College.

The support doesn’t end once you enroll. Whether you receive financial aid or not, Swarthmore provides the following at no extra cost: laundry, printing, campus events, textbooks (up to $790 each year), and unlimited rides on SEPTA (Philly’s public transit system). And on special occasions, free breakfast at midnight. Making the most out of your time here won’t involve hidden fees.

Connect

Interactivity
Interdependence
Interdiscovery

That’s the Swarthmore community — and whatever your passion, there’s a portal, podium, 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 befriend someone who is. When you tune in to WSRN 91.5, you might recognize the DJ’s voice from a club meeting. And whether or not you typically enjoy sci-fi, you’ll probably want to join in the annual live action role play, the Pterodactyl Hunt.

Connect

Interactivity
Interdependence
Interdiscovery

That’s the Swarthmore community — and whatever your passion, there’s a portal, podium, 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 befriend someone who is. When you tune in to WSRN 91.5, you might recognize the DJ’s voice from a club meeting. And whether or not you typically enjoy sci-fi, you’ll probably want to join in the annual live action role play, the Pterodactyl Hunt.

three female students weather bright colored scarves made of feathers

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.

Students, faculty, and coaches become ‘real people’ to one another as they pursue common objectives.

Swarthmore mens basketball team celebrating with a trophy

Swarthmore field hockey team in a huddle

teach giving a lecture at the front of the classroom

female smiling while sitting in a classroom

Awe-Inspiring Seminars

The epitome of Swarthmore’s liberal arts environment, the College’s Honors Program represents intellectual inquiry at its highest levels: small, deeply focused seminars with all the excitement of graduate study. Students draw on the broad context of four years of knowledge during watershed discussions. The program attracts students across disciplines — from economics and English to dance and physics.

Come Curious, Get Curiouser and Curiouser.

“Swarthmore Honors Student” does sound a little redundant, doesn’t it? But we have an Honors Program unlike anything you’ll find at another undergraduate college. If you’re someone with an insatiable curiosity, the program is specially designed to allow you to go as deep as you want into the subjects you choose and help you come into your own as a scholar.

Participants are self-selected, meaning there’s no separate application to get in and no GPA requirement to stay in. Just keep showing up and showing interest in your learning and your fellow learners.

Like the feeling of holding a conversation in a new language for the first time, or the smell of cherry blossom trees blooming on campus at the first sign of spring, there’s truly nothing like our Honors Program.

teacher giving student a lecture outside

students wearing headphones and writing on the white board

Once you’re enrolled, you’ll spend your time in super small and specialized seminars where you’ll be able to dig deep into the topics that get your brain abuzz. And our world-class faculty — equal parts knowledgeable and kind — are eager to help your curious mind find the answers it craves on the path to indescribable intellectual freedom.

The best part comes at the end, when you take everything you’ve learned and get evaluated by non-Swarthmore experts. We’re talking about the leading scholars and practitioners in their respective fields across every industry traveling in from places like Geneva, Harvard, and the Wilma Theater in Philly just to hear what you have to say.

Trust us when we tell you that there is nothing more rewarding than proving you’ve mastered a topic during your time in the Honors Program by engaging in lively conversation about your ideas with brilliant strangers, whose work you may have studied, and truly being able to hold your own.

“By far, my favorite thing is that I get to hang out with cool people and talk about interesting things. It’s invigorating to study with such engaged and excited people.”

We’ve thrown a lot your way — even for you, a person who probably enjoys getting a lot of knowledge thrown at them.

Just know that as much as there is to ponder here at Swarthmore, there are even more places to do your pondering. A whole arboretum for you to call home.

Follow the meandering hiking trails and creeks in the Crum Woods, gather at the amphitheater, stroll through the rose garden, or feel small amongst the growth of redwood trees (yes, they live on the East Coast, too — these rugged friends are called the Swarthmore Hardy).

Well, for now, we’ll make like a Quaker in an arboretum and leave you to your thoughts. Nuanced, complex, and ever-flowing as they may be.

outdoor amphitheater on Swarthmore campus

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 develop strategies for windborne energy. They inspire policy that makes voting accessible to more people. They create sustainable systems for interpretation services in courts. It all begins with First Collection, a candle-lighting ceremony at the start of the academic year.

teacher giving a presentation on a projector screen

Act On Your Values

How will your experiences as a Swattie fit into the bigger picture?

Maybe you’ll take an engaged scholarship course, where classroom experience and research have real world applications in the community.

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 conduct research with a faculty member to address the challenges faced by newcomers to the United States. (See more examples.)

Prepare to learn from and with people who share your commitments and values. Connect, learn, act. Change, improve, and act some more. And don’t forget to enjoy the journey.

student wearing a "Swarthmore's Carbon-Free Future" shirt

Swarthmore student raising her hand to ask a question

At the end of the day, we all really just want each other to be the best person that we can be, and want to make the world a better place.

students planting and digging in a garden

two Swarthmore students walking together

swarthmore.edu/lang-center

Swarthmore graduate giving a speech at a podium

two students painting windows on Swarthmore campus

student writing on a chalkboard in a classroom

Swarthmore educates future leaders on issues like health care reform, climate change, racial and criminal justice, representation in the arts, and gender equity.

Balance?

Achievable, encouraged, and even a little bit fun.

Kick Back

What happens when you place yourself in a stimulating living environment with a bunch of curious overachievers? Sometimes you fire up the karaoke machine. 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’ll find that your academic life complements your social life — and vice versa. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to unwind from your coursework, and the bonds you form with your classmates will extend into life beyond the classroom. Study sessions turn into catch-ups over coffee. Course readings become spirited conversations at dinner. And when it’s time to graduate, you’ll find yourself with lifelong friends that challenge and inspire you.

swarthmore.edu/living-swarthmore

Track and field student running through finish line

“once your eyes are opened, it’s impossible not to be involved.”

When students live at Swarthmore, “feeling at home” isn’t confined to the residence halls. The entire campus is a well-integrated living space: a relaxed mix of being and doing.

“We all have this connectivity: the way our ideas form together and build off of each other. We don’t see that just in the classrooms. We see that in our residence halls, in the dining hall. And I think that’s my favorite part about Swarthmore’s community.”

“I ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO, WHETHER IT’S EXPLORING MY PASSIONS IN STUDENT CLUBS, TALKING TO PROFESSORS, OR JUST EATING OUT IN THE CITY WITH FRIENDS.”

of Swarthmore students are involved in sports.

participate in varsity intercollegiate athletics in the NCAA Centennial Conference — competing against such opponents as Johns Hopkins University and archrival Haverford College.

of Swarthmore students are involved in sports.

participate in varsity intercollegiate athletics in the NCAA Centennial Conference — competing against such opponents as Johns Hopkins University and archrival Haverford College.

of Swarthmore students are involved in sports.

participate in varsity intercollegiate athletics in the NCAA 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.”

Swarthmore baseball player at second base

Student with hands in a praying position looking up

Two Swarthmore students holding trophies

Swarthmore swimmers holding up swimming flag

Swarthmore track and field student holding trophy

Swarthmore student soccer player running on field

“You are required to grow into something.
You don’t just stay the same way.”

Students on boats, rafts and waking in a river

The Inner Landscape

Flanked by the Hormel-Nguyen Intercultural Center, Swarthmore’s Clothier Hall looks out over Philadelphia, one of the largest cities 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.

“From my research and assistant work, to internships and volunteer work, my confidence in myself is something that radiates now. I really feel like Swarthmore helped me succeed.”

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)
First Person Arts

(Philadelphia, Pa.)
Google

(Mountain View, Calif.)
“I Have a Dream” Foundation

(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)
U.S. Tax Court

(Washington, D.C.)
Women’s Law Project

(Philadelphia, Pa.)

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. Fortunately, Swatties have the power to make meaningful choices along the way. You’ll have internship and alumni-sponsored professional opportunities with funding often available from the College to pursue them. These can either lead to career possibilities or lead you away from the thing you always thought you wanted to do.

With a train station at the foot of campus and Philadelphia 25 minutes away, 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 2022 entered the following fields in their first jobs after graduation:

Research: 21%
Consulting: 16%
Engineering 16%
Legal & Administration: 12%
Finance: 10%
Education & Teaching: 10%
Data & Analytics: 4%
Writing & Communications: 4%
Public Service: 3%

Employers of recent Swarthmore graduates:

Apple Inc.
Booz Allen Hamilton
Brookings Institution
Center for Applied Linguistics
Civil Rights Corps
Comcast
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Field Museum of Natural History
Fine Arts Work Center
Google
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Moody’s Analytics
Microsoft Inc.
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
National Public Radio
Netflix
Peace Corps
Penn Medicine
Smithsonian Institution
Sotheby’s
Space Telescope Science Institute
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of State
Venmo
Walnut Street Theatre
Yale University

Graduate schools most frequently attended by Swarthmore’s Class of 2022:

Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
New York University
Stanford University
University of Chicago
University of North Carolina
University of Pennsylvania
Villanova University
Yale University

There’s an intimate alumni network. I found it quite easy to connect to so many different folks who really helped formulate my experience at Swarthmore — and my future career.

We’ve told you a lot about us. But we haven’t told you everything.

That’s because so much of who we are is defined by our people — the part of our story best appreciated by getting here and interacting, debating, and waxing poetic with each other. Then sitting together in the Dining Center.

Now, we hope you’ll give us the opportunity to learn about you through your application to Swarthmore. We’re, of course, interested in the classes you’ve taken and how you’ve challenged yourself (which, hopefully, is often and with enthusiasm); but that’s not all we want to know.

Your application will go through a holistic review. Elements like your essay and letters of recommendation give us a glimpse into how you like to think, what you care about, and how you’ve grown from your mistakes. The really defining stuff.
Help us understand what you hope to get out of your time here, and how you will leave Swarthmore a more interesting place than when you found it.

More than 40

majors and programs

Ancient History
Anthropology
Arabic
Art
Art History
Asian American Studies
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Biology
Black Studies
Chemical Physics
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
Medical Anthropology
Medieval Studies
Modern Languages & Literatures
Music
Neuroscience
Peace & Conflict Studies
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religion
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Statistics
Theater

Swatties who wish to pursue careers 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.

A renowned

LIBERAL ARTS education

Among the nation’s premier private colleges, founded in 1864 by Quakers who were passionate about women’s rights and abolition, Swarthmore offers a coeducational, academically rigorous undergraduate experience.

Upwards view of tall green trees and leaves

Front of a classic building with large ornate detail and white columns

425 stunningly beautiful acres

Located just 11 miles — or a 25-minute train ride — from Philadelphia, Swarthmore’s campus consists of distinguished buildings made of Pennsylvania fieldstone in an arboretum landscaped with more than 4,000 species of plants.

Close up of green leaves and light green flowers

A diverse

CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Swarthmore welcomes and affirms students from all races, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, citizenship statuses, and geographic locations. While we make admissions decisions without regard to race, our holistic admissions process considers individuals’ lived experience, and our student body represents people from all walks of life. In 2022-23, the College’s 1,699 undergraduates came from 49 states and 54 countries and included:

American Indian/Native Alaskan<1%
Asian18%
Black or African American9%
Hispanic14%
U.S. non-resident/Undocumented14%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander<1%
Race/ethnicity unreported3%
Two or more races10%
White32%

Our admitted Class of 2027 included:

First generation to attend college34%
Community-based organization participants32%
Public or charter school students65%
Rural public school attendees7%

Close up of orange, red and brown leaves

Student holding potted plant in conversation

Up close view of fall leaves with out of focus buildings in the background

Two students smiling and laughing in snow

Accomplished, accessible

faculty

Swarthmore has 174 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, 100% of whom have a terminal degree in their field. Our student-faculty ratio is 8:1 and the average class size is 17 students.

An empowering

pass/fail

semester

Our first-semester pass/fail grading policy (p. 14) eases the transition to college and encourages academic exploration.

An exceptional

Honors

Program

Swarthmore’s self-selected Honors Program is the only one of its kind in the U.S. Intimate seminars and independent research culminate in written and oral exams given by visiting experts.

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.

Students and teacher having lecture outside

An empowering

pass/fail

semester

Our first-semester pass/fail grading policy (p. 14) eases the transition to college and encourages academic exploration.

An exceptional

Honors

Program

Swarthmore’s self-selected Honors Program is the only one of its kind in the U.S. Intimate seminars and independent research culminate in written and oral exams given by visiting experts.

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.

A Wealth Of

Academic Support

Peer assistance is an integral part of studying at Swarthmore. No matter the subject, you’ll find the resources you need to not just pass an exam or finish a semester, but to truly thrive.

Computer Science Student Mentors (“Ninjas” group study and tutors)
Dean’s Tutor Program (individual and group sessions for students with demonstrated academic need)
Engineering Academic Support (“Wizards” group study and tutors)
Laboratory Teaching Assistants (classroom support and evening help sessions)
Math & Stat Academic Support (“Pi-rates” and “Mu-ses” group study and tutors)
Office of Learning Resources (time-management and test-taking workshops)
Science Associates Program (collaborative problem-solving)
Student Academic Mentors (residence hall peers who help with time management and course registration)
Student Disability Services (ensures full access and participation for all)
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)
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)
Hormel-Nguyen Intercultural Center (which includes the Intercultural Center, Interfaith Center and the International Student Center, along with programs and services that support Asian American, Latinx, multiracial, Native American, LGBTQ+, low-income, international, and first-generation college students)
i20 (International Students Organization)
Kairos Christian Fellowship
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
Swarthmore African Student Association
Swarthmore African American Student Society
Swarthmore College Young Democrats
Swarthmore Indigenous Students Association
Swarthmore Kehilah: Jewish Community
Swarthmore Quaker Society
Swarthmore Queer Union
Swarthmore Women of Color Collective
Swarthmore Zero Waste
Tech for Social Good
Women’s Resource Center

Recent speakers, performers, and visiting artists have included 82nd U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, authors Nikki Giovanni and Patricia Park ’03, justice advocate Bryan Stevenson, Broadway actress Renée Elise Goldsberry, jazz musician Branford Marsalis, global statesman David Miliband, visual artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby ’04, punk-rock collective Pussy Riot, athlete and social justice advocate Malcolm Jenkins, as well as activist and author Sybrina Fulton.

Overhead view of dining room area with faculty and students dining

Campus FACILITIES

and resources

Benjamin West House (home of our 24/7/365 Public Safety Department)
Dining and Community Commons (a brand new, sustainably built dining and student center)
Greenhouse (supporting botanical research)
Information Technology (academic and administrative technology services)
Kitao Art Gallery (student-run art gallery)
Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility (community engagement opportunities)
Lang Music Building (with 420-seat concert hall and practice rooms)
Lang Performing Arts Center (with 825-seat Pearson-Hall Theatre, Frear Ensemble Theater, a black box experimental theater, Boyer Dance Studio, Troy Dance Lab, and the List Art Gallery)
Language Center (audio, video, and computer resources)
Libraries
- McCabe Library (main library, includes the renowned Peace Collection)
- Friends Historical Library (Quaker collection and College archives)
- Black Cultural Center Library
- Cornell Library of Science and Engineering
- Underhill Music and Dance Library
The Matchbox Fitness Center (supporting recreation and wellness)
Maxine Frank Singer Hall (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 for events, yoga, or peaceful meditation)
Peter van de Kamp Observatory (with 24-inch reflecting telescope)
Whittier Hall (academic and studio space for the art department — including the MakerSpace, a communal wood shop, and digital fabrication lab)

Large yellow, blue and black Sustainability mural on campus that says To Zero By Thirty-Five

2023 Softball Centennial Conference Champions group photo

Women's volleyball team on court in mid-celebration

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 play in seven chartered club teams and a wide range of intramural sports.

SUSTAINABILITY

at Swarthmore

Since its founding, Swarthmore has had a clear view of our responsibility to the natural environment. The College is continuing to take decisive action through our ambitious and combustion-free energy plan, To Zero By Thirty-Five. By 2035, buildings across campus will be connected to a new heating and cooling geoexchange system. Together with ongoing energy efficiency improvements across campus buildings, onsite solar and off-site renewable energy procurement, and a standby electricity generation plant, the College is positioned to significantly reduce our carbon emissions and reach carbon neutrality by 2035.

Students smiling and holding up shirt representing Swarthmore sustainability efforts

Expanded

COURSE OFFERINGS

Students may take courses and participate in student clubs at both Bryn Mawr and Haverford colleges, members of the Tri-College Consortium with Swarthmore. Cross-registration with the University of Pennsylvania is also available.

Campus FACILITIES

and resources

Benjamin West House (home of our 24/7/365 Public Safety Department)
Dining and Community Commons (a brand new, sustainably built dining and student center)
Greenhouse (supporting botanical research)
Information Technology (academic and administrative technology services)
Kitao Art Gallery (student-run art gallery)
Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility (community engagement opportunities)
Lang Music Building (with 420-seat concert hall and practice rooms)
Lang Performing Arts Center (with 825-seat Pearson-Hall Theatre, Frear Ensemble Theater, a black box experimental theater, Boyer Dance Studio, Troy Dance Lab, and the List Art Gallery)
Language Center (audio, video, and computer resources)
Libraries
- McCabe Library (main library, includes the renowned Peace Collection)
- Friends Historical Library (Quaker collection and College archives)
- Black Cultural Center Library
- Cornell Library of Science and Engineering
- Underhill Music and Dance Library
The Matchbox Fitness Center (supporting recreation and wellness)
Maxine Frank Singer Hall (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 for events, yoga, or peaceful meditation)
Peter van de Kamp Observatory (with 24-inch reflecting telescope)
Whittier Hall (academic and studio space for the art department — including the MakerSpace, a communal wood shop, and digital fabrication lab)

SUSTAINABILITY

at Swarthmore

Since its founding, Swarthmore has had a clear view of our responsibility to the natural environment. The College is continuing to take decisive action through our ambitious and combustion-free energy plan, To Zero By Thirty-Five. By 2035, buildings across campus will be connected to a new heating and cooling geoexchange system. Together with ongoing energy efficiency improvements across campus buildings, onsite solar and off-site renewable energy procurement, and a standby electricity generation plant, the College is positioned to significantly reduce our carbon emissions and reach carbon neutrality by 2035.

Expanded

COURSE OFFERINGS

Students may take courses and participate in student clubs at both Bryn Mawr and Haverford colleges, members of the Tri-College Consortium with Swarthmore. Cross-registration with the University of Pennsylvania is also available.

Two students sitting at table in student housing

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 H’78, and is one of very few science buildings named for a woman on a U.S. college campus.

Comfortable

Housing and dining

Typically 95% of students live on campus in 18 residence halls, each with resident assistants who schedule programs and activities. All four years of housing are guaranteed. The Dining Center offers a global variety of meals, while striving to serve local and organic food, minimize food waste, and conserve resources. Cafés and other dining options (like the popular Essie Mae’s) are also available around campus.

Pink flowers blooming in front of Swarthmore building

Group photo of students abroad atop a mountain

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. Your financial aid decision does not change if you study abroad, and the funds travel with you.

engaged scholarship

The Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility facilitates Swarthmore College’s commitment to intellectual rigor, ethical engagement, and social responsibility by connecting what we call the three C’s: curriculum, campus, and communities. We do this through:

Engaged Scholarship Courses (observe, build, collaborate)
Project Grants (design a project with a community partner)
Social Impact Summer Scholarships (intern with a mission-driven organization)
Faculty-led Engaged Research (work with a faculty member to address a social, ethical, or environmental issue)
Faculty-led Programs (learn and act collectively)
Co-Lab (take mini-courses to think bigger and act smarter)
Engaged Humanities Studio (share your research in creative ways)

Student standing in front of computer in mid speech

Two students standing at podium speaking

Community Partners

Swarthmore offers hands-on opportunities to make an impact in our region and beyond by learning and working alongside our partners, some of which include:

Asian Arts Initiative (arts center focused on social change)
Chester Education Foundation (after school and career training programs)
Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (grassroots environmental justice)
Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy (grassroots activist organization focused on gun laws)
Electric Generation (educates and trains communities in solar power benefits and jobs)
Equity Research and Innovation Center (actionable research on health and health care systems)
The Eviction Lab (data tracking around issues of housing costs and evictions)
HIAS Pennsylvania (refugee protection and advocacy)
Human Rights Watch (global activism and advocacy focused on policy change)
Mazzoni Center (comprehensive LGBTQ+ health and wellness)
Nationalities Service Center (immigrant and refugee services)
Philadelphia Behavioral Science Initiative (social science research to impact local government policy)
Puentes de Salud (health and wellness for Philadelphia’s Latinx community)
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting (journalism focused on underrepresented global issues)
Scribe Video Center (multimedia training center)

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-one percent of our student body received a total of nearly $48 million in need-based scholarship or grant aid from Swarthmore in 2022–23.

There are no hidden or additional fees at Swarthmore. Students are not charged extra for things like laundry, lab classes, printing, sporting events, and live performances.

2022–23 Billed Costs

Tuition includes a $790 annual allowance for all students toward the cost of required course materials.

Tuition$58,928
Housing$9,104
Food$8,922
Student Activities Fee$400

Total$77,354
Average Aid Decision$62,570

The quotations throughout this book have been excerpted from conversations with 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.

06.2023

Swarthmore Viewbook

“I’m considering Swarthmore.”

Perspective

Challenging = fun

more challenging = more FUN

Sample Senior Thesis Titles

What is Motivation?

TO LEARN IS TO DARE.

WHO CARES? HERE, WE ALL DO.

BRING YOUR INTELLECT.

then SHARE IT.

Research Central

Making it Work

IS swarthmore affordable?

Connect

Connect

SHAPING the SELF

Awe-Inspiring Seminars

Come Curious, Get Curiouser and Curiouser.

A Quaker Tradition

Act On Your Values

Balance?

Kick Back

The Inner Landscape

Move Beyond.

Recent Internships

After Swarthmore

More than 40 majors and programs

A renowned LIBERAL ARTS education

A diverse CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Accomplished, accessible faculty

An empowering pass/fail semester

An exceptional Honors Program

Intensive research opportunities

An empowering pass/fail semester

An exceptional Honors Program

Intensive research opportunities

A Wealth Of Academic Support

More than 40

majors and programs

A renowned

LIBERAL ARTS education

A diverse

CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Accomplished, accessible

faculty

An empowering

pass/fail

semester

An exceptional

Honors

Program

Intensive

research

opportunities

An empowering

pass/fail

semester

An exceptional

Honors

Program

Intensive

research

opportunities

A Wealth Of

Academic Support