My list

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania · Private · 1,613 undergrads

Swarthmore admits 7.5% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 4, 2027.

See your odds and what families like yours paid. It stays on your device. Add my SAT and income

Can I get into Swarthmore?

7.5% of applicants get in

Almost everyone who applies is turned down, including many students with perfect grades. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1480–1550 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

12,995 applied, 977 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does Swarthmore cost?

$17,392 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $88,696.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$6,966
$30,000–$48,000$7,978
$48,000–$75,000$18,171
$75,000–$110,000$14,741
over $110,000$50,329

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Swarthmore's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

When is Swarthmore due?

6 days left

6days
Early decisionBinding
Due Sunday, Nov 15, 2026
56days
Early decision IIBinding
Due Monday, Jan 4, 2027
56days
Regular decision
Due Monday, Jan 4, 2027
Add to calendar Every Swarthmore deadline

Checked on swarthmore.edu Nov 5, 2026. See the source

Does Swarthmore need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 39% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1520 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on swarthmore.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

1,613
undergrads. Small, so classes are small and you'll know a lot of faces.
Suburb
Campus setting in Swarthmore, PA.
94%
of first-years come back for year two.
76%
finish in four years. 94% within six.
$86.3k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$15k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Swarthmore is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Nov 15Colleges due Jan 4Early decision II collegesDeadlines after Jan 1Most selective in PennsylvaniaCheapest after aid in PennsylvaniaColleges for a 1500 SATColleges for a 34 ACTCheapest after aid, families under $30k

Questions people ask

Is Swarthmore College test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Swarthmore is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on swarthmore.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Swarthmore College's acceptance rate?
7.5% for fall 2025: 977 of 12,995 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Swarthmore College?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1480 to 1550 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Swarthmore College cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $18,171 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $88,696.
When is the Swarthmore College application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision is due Nov 15, 2026. Early decision II is due Jan 4, 2027. Regular decision is due Jan 4, 2027. Checked on swarthmore.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
Does Swarthmore College have early decision?
Yes. 228 of 1,281 early decision applicants were admitted (18%) in fall 2025. Early decision is binding: if you're admitted, you go.