At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.
Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college near Philadelphia known for its rigorous academics, including an unusual honors program modeled on the Oxford seminar system. Its beautiful arboretum campus and commitment to intellectual depth attract students who thrive in a challenging, discussion-based learning environment.
Mascot: Garnet
Notable Alumni
Sally Ride (first American woman in space)•Alice Paul (women's suffrage leader)•Jonathan Franzen (acclaimed novelist)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
Swarthmore's unofficial motto might as well be 'where fun goes to die' — a self-aware joke among students who chose one of the most academically demanding colleges in the country. Greek life was permanently banned in 2019, and social life now revolves around campus-wide events, student org parties, and college-sponsored Parlor Parties. The campus is deeply progressive, socially conscious, and intellectually intense, with a collaborative rather than competitive academic culture. Philadelphia is a short train ride away for students wanting city nightlife.
The campus doubles as the Scott Arboretum, with ~350 acres of meticulously curated gardens, rolling lawns, and native woodland surrounding warm stone collegiate Gothic buildings—an extraordinary fusion of architecture and landscape.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Swarthmore's Public Safety operates 24/7 with campus shuttles, walking escorts, and building patrols on a compact campus. Most incidents are alcohol-related disciplinary referrals.
Swarthmore borough is ranked among the best places to live in Delaware County, with a crime rate 79% below the national average. Extremely low violent crime.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Throughout the week during the academic year. Space is highly limited — register early. Group visits for high schools/CBOs also available (1-hour tour + 45-min Q&A).
Duration: ~1 hour for guided campus tour
Registration required even for self-guided visits (for instructions and safety protocols). Pick up campus map at the Campus & Community Store at 4 South Chester Road. Contact: (610) 328-8300 or admissions@swarthmore.edu.
Book a TourRegister in advance to receive instructions, directions, and safety protocols. Interactive campus map, printable PDF, and online virtual tour all available.
Tour ResourcesOctober for fall foliage throughout the arboretum and full campus energy. April-May when the gardens are in peak bloom is also spectacular. Avoid January-February (cold, campus can feel quiet). The arboretum is beautiful in every season, but spring and fall are extraordinary.
Weekdays before 3:30pm: park in the Benjamin West Lot visitors' section or signed visitor spaces in Fieldhouse or Whittier lots. After 3:30pm and weekends: DuPont lot also available. GPS: 'Visitor's Center Rd, Swarthmore, PA 19081.' Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is 20 minutes away. SEPTA Media/Wawa Line train station is at the foot of campus (25 min to Center City Philadelphia, transfer from airport line).
Location
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