If you want to apply to Swarthmore College, the regular decision application deadline is January 4 and the application fee is $60.
Students who submit their applications to Swarthmore College for fall semester should anticipate a decision by April 1.
The following is an overiew of some of Swarthmore College's admissions stats.
Swarthmore College 2022 | Admissions Statistics |
---|---|
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 90% |
Mean SAT Score | 1489 |
Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
Applicants Who Submit SATs | 39% |
Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 21% |
Waitlist | Yes |
These are the application deadlines for Swarthmore College.
Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Early Decision I | Yes | November 15 | December 15 |
Early Decision II | Yes | January 4 | February 15 |
Early Action | No | –– | –– |
Regular Decision | Yes | January 1 | April 1 |
Swarthmore College offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.
🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 15 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.
🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 4. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 15.
The early decision acceptance rate at Swarthmore College is 24%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 8%. Last year, Swarthmore College admitted 234 of the 984 students who applied early decision.
Some students apply to college early because they hope it will increase their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of acceptance, since it is a way to show your interest in a school.
➡️ Find a list of some top colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
For more information on transferring to Swarthmore College, contact the school directly.
Swarthmore College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.
Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the admissions factors where you're strong.
Wondering what factors are considered by Swarthmore College during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
Admissions Factor | Level |
---|---|
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Very Important |
Class Rank | Very Important |
Application Essay | Very Important |
Recommendation(s) | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
Geographical Residence | Considered |
Work Experience | Considered |
Extracurricular Activities | Considered |
First Generation | Considered |
Interview | Considered |
Racial/Ethnic Status | Considered |
Religious Affiliation/Commitment | Considered |
State Residency | Considered |
Talent/Ability | Considered |
Standardized Test Scores | Considered |
Volunteer Work | Considered |
Make sure to check with Swarthmore College for more information on admission factors.
To apply to Swarthmore College, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with Swarthmore College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Interview | ||||
Other Requirements | Statement of good standing from prior institutions. | |||
Transcript(S) of College Record | ||||
Standardized Test Scores | ||||
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S) | ||||
Letter(s) of Recommendation | 2 | |||
Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | |||
Transcript of High School Record | √ |
Swarthmore College has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.
Out of all students that were admitted, 35% submitted a class rank. At Swarthmore College 90% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 99% were in the top 25% and 100% were in the top 50%.
At Swarthmore College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
GPA | Percent of Students |
---|---|
4.0 GPA | –– |
3.75 and 3.99 | –– |
3.50 and 3.74 | –– |
3.25 and 3.49 | –– |
3.00 and 3.24 | –– |
2.50 and 2.9 | –– |
2.00 and 2.49 | –– |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Swarthmore College directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Swarthmore College considers standardized tests scores during the admissions process.
Swarthmore College is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 39% of Swarthmore College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 21% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
To be competitive with other Swarthmore College applicants, you should strive to score between 1440 and 1540 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Swarthmore College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1540 and 25% of scored lower than 1440, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Swarthmore College student is 1489.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Swarthmore College students scored 790 or higher and 75% of students scored 710 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Swarthmore College students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 710 or higher.
To be most competitive at Swarthmore College, you should strive to earn between 33 and 35 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Swarthmore College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.
A 33 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Swarthmore College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 33.
Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is April 1. Applicants should hear back by May 15.
Transfer students can enroll in Swarthmore College during the following terms:
• Fall Term
Can I defer my acceptance to Swarthmore College?
✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Swarthmore College.
Does Swarthmore College accept transfer credits?
✅ Swarthmore College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.
Do I have to submit test scores to Swarthmore College?
❌ No, Swarthmore College is test optional, so you can choose whether to submit your ACT or SAT scores. If you have higher than average scores, you probably want to include them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.
What is Swarthmore College's acceptance rate?
✅ Swarthmore College's acceptance rate is 8%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Swarthmore College?
✅ Swarthmore College's early decision acceptance rate was 24% in 2021.
To learn more about Swarthmore College, choose from the options below:
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Admission Difficulty
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Swarthmore College is Jan 4.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Swarthmore College is Apr 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
35 and Above
33 to 35
33 and Less
The median ACT score of an admitted student to Swarthmore College is 34. Students with an ACT score of 35 and above have a good chance of getting into Swarthmore College. Students with an ACT score that falls between 33 and 35 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 33 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1540 and Above
1440 to 1540
1440 and Less
The median SAT score for Swarthmore College students is 1489. Applicants with SAT scores of 1540 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Swarthmore College, while applicants with SAT scores between 1440 to 1540 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1440 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Swarthmore College.
Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)
Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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