UNIVERSITY · CDS 2024-2025
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA 1,625 undergrad Updated 2026-04-22
Top LACNeed-Blind
Accept
7.0%
Yield
44.0%
Test
Optional
Academic Profile · CDS C9 / C11
The numbers a parent will ask about first.
SAT Total (mid 50%, computed)
1490–1560
SAT EBRW (mid 50%)
740–770
SAT Math (mid 50%)
750–790
ACT Composite (mid 50%)
33–35
GPA
Not reported
GPA NOTENot separately reported in CDS
METHODTotal SAT range is computed by summing the reported EBRW and Math mid-50% ranges from the school’s CDS (Section C9). Use as an approximation — a student’s actual total places them within, not at, the summed endpoints.
Decision Plans · CDS C1 / C21
When and how the school reads applicants.
| Plan | Deadline | Accept rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan details not yet recorded. | |||
Cost & Aid · CDS H Series
What it costs and what families actually pay.
Tuition
$72,722
Total COA
$98,370
Avg need-based aid
$71,089
Avg merit award
$62,424
Net price after avg need aid
$27,281
Swarthmore meets 1% of demonstrated need on average.
Named merit programs
McCabe Achievement Award
$72,722 – $98,370 / yr (renewable)
AP Impact Calculator
What the student's APs are actually worth here.
Swarthmore's AP Policy
Swarthmore College grants credit for AP scores of 4 or 5 in many subjects. In many cases, credit is awarded only after the successful completion of a related course at the college. There is no college-wide maximum for AP credits.
Min score
4
Credit cap
Uncapped
Mode
Credit + placement
Per-score grid
Exam-level
Add the student's APs
No APs selected. Click Add AP exam to start, or use the sample profile to see what a strong student might recover.
What They Value · CDS C7
Every CDS factor, weighted exactly as the admissions office files it.
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery Important
- Class rankVery Important
- Academic GPAVery Important
- Standardized test scoresConsidered
- Application EssayVery Important
- Recommendation(s)Very Important
Mission & Narrative
What this school says it is — in their own words.
Swarthmore College provides learners of diverse backgrounds a transformative liberal arts education grounded in rigorous intellectual inquiry and empowers all who share in our community to flourish and contribute to a better world.
Distilled Themes
Transformative liberal artsRigorous intellectual inquiryCommunity and flourishingContributing to a better world
The Coach's Read
What 'what they value' actually means at the table.
- 01Swarthmore is intensely intellectual, so they value genuine curiosity and a love of learning for its own sake.
- 02They want to see students who will actively contribute to their collaborative and community-oriented campus culture.
- 03A passion for social justice and making a positive impact on the world is a huge plus.
Application Targets
What a strong application here should signal.
- 01Demonstrate a deep and genuine intellectual curiosity through your essays and recommendations.
- 02Highlight your commitment to community and collaboration in your extracurriculars and personal statements.
- 03Show your passion for making a difference and your alignment with Swarthmore's Quaker values.
Quiet Disqualifiers
Things that hurt applicants here, even when they look fine on paper.
- A lack of intellectual depth or a purely grade-driven approach to academics
- An overly competitive or individualistic attitude that clashes with the collaborative spirit of the college
- A demonstrated lack of interest in social issues or making a positive impact
Signature Programs
Where this school is genuinely best-in-class.
Honors Program; Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility; Engineering Program; Peace and Conflict Studies
Application calendar
Every date the family needs to know.
Deadlines & Decision Dates · 2025-2026
Family deadline matrix
Plan
Deadline
Decision release
Early Decision I
Binding
Decision release is mid-December.
Nov 15, 2025
→ Dec 15, 2025
Early Decision II
Binding
Decision release is mid-February.
Jan 4, 2026
→ Feb 15, 2026
Regular Decision
Non-binding
Decision release is by April 1.
Jan 4, 2026
→ Apr 1, 2026
Early Action
Not offered
—
Restrictive Early Action
Not offered
—
Rolling Admission
Not offered
—
See every school side-by-side on the Deadline Tracker →
CDS C7 · Level of applicant's interest
Does effort toward this school move the needle?
Demonstrated Interest·CDS C7 (2024-2025)
Not trackedWeight: Considered
Swarthmore's official admissions policy states they do not track demonstrated interest, despite the CDS reporting it as 'Considered'.
Save the energy
Focus on academics and essays; Swarthmore does not track demonstrated interest, so no need to signal engagement.
Provenance