Chances of getting into Swarthmore College
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into Swarthmore and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at Swarthmore is 8%. It ranks #2 in Pennsylvania and #20 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Swarthmore is extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Last year, 1,013 out of 13,012 applicants were admitted.
The school has exceptionally high admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 2 percent on standardized admission tests. Swarthmore College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.9. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. 45% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The Swarthmore application fee is $60 and applications are due by Jan 1.
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Swarthmore College. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 39% of students submitted SAT scores and 21% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..
Swarthmore SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 710 |
| SAT Math 25th | 720 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1430 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 770 |
| SAT Math 75th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1560 |
| Average SAT Score | 1500
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Swarthmore College?
Swarthmore College is a test optional school meaning applicants are not required to submit SAT scores with their application. The position on SAT scores from the school is "considered but not required".
Students who get into Swarthmore College score in the top 3 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 1430-1560.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
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Swarthmore ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 34 |
| ACT Math 25th | 30 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 33 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 36 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 34
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Swarthmore?
Swarthmore College is test optional. Students are not required to submit ACT scores with their application. The policy on ACT scores is "considered but not required".
Swarthmore regularly accepts students who score 33 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 2 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 33-35.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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Swarthmore GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into Swarthmore College?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into Swarthmore. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Swarthmore College was 3.9 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #3 in Pennsylvania for highest average GPA. Given the school's very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Swarthmore extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 3.9 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 3.9 GPA.
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*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply employs an artificial intelligence (AI) process to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of other colleges' data. 3.9 is an estimate of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
High School Class Rank
90% of Swarthmore College freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 90% |
| Top 25% of class | 99% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 7,638 | 5,374 | 13,012 |
| Accepted | 533 | 480 | 1,013 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7% | 9% | 8% |
| Enrolled | 238 | 216 | 454 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 45% | 45% | 45% |
Fall 2023 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Swarthmore College is $60.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Swarthmore College and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Considered but not required |
| High School GPA | Considered but not required |
| High School Class Rank | Considered but not required |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=216287 IPEDS survey data for Swarthmore College.
FAQs
Does Swarthmore College prefer SAT or ACT?
39% of students submit their SAT scores to Swarthmore. 21% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Swarthmore College?
8% of those who apply are granted admission to Swarthmore. Admission competition is extreme and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Swarthmore College?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1430 and 1560. 39% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Swarthmore College?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 33 and 35. 21% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.