Swarthmore College
Data sourced from Common Data Set (Institutional), Institutional Website, for the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page. Testing policy checked against the college's own pages on Oct 18, 2026.
Preparation
This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.
Admissions
How admission works here
- Where you apply
- The Common App. Common App requirements grid
- Test scores
- Submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. Swarthmore College admissions
- Essays
- The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
- Application fee
- $60. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
- Deadlines
- Early Decision (binding) November 15, 2026, Early Decision II (binding) January 4, 2027, Regular Decision January 4, 2027. Common App requirements grid
My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.
- 1Computer and Information Sciences
- 2Economics
- 3Mathematics
- 4Biology
- 5Engineering
- 6Political Science
- 7Research and Experimental Psychology
- 8English
- 9Neuroscience
- 10Philosophy
Ordered by how many students graduated in each, 2023-24. Source: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS Completions survey). Names are the federal categories, so Swarthmore College may call a major something slightly different.
Applying
Applying through the Common App
- Application fee
- $60
- Common App fee waiver
- Accepted
- Common App personal essay
- Required
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, counselor recommendation, mid-year report
Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.
College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.
View official application requirementsMusic & Sports Tracks
Sports
Academics
Flagship Programs
Career & Major Pathways
Cost
This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.
Financial Aid
What families actually paid, by household income
Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.
- Under $30,000
- $7,690
- $30,001 – $48,000
- $4,951
- $48,001 – $75,000
- $11,444
- $75,001 – $110,000
- $22,443
- Over $110,000
- $47,544
College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024
Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.
Scholarships and merit aid
Swarthmore is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated need with no-loan packages; there is no merit aid — average grants cover roughly 90% of tuition for the ~58% of students who receive aid.
Campus
Campus Fit
*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024
†Common App requirements grid · 2026-27
‡Swarthmore College admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 28, 2026