Swarthmore Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
9.5%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
How hard is it to get into Swarthmore and can I get accepted? The school has a 9% acceptance rate ranking it #2 in Pennsylvania for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 1,020 out of 10,749 applicants were admitted making Swarthmore an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 6 percent. Swarthmore College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 41% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
Sponsored by Cappex
Find out which students are getting accepted at Swarthmore, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesSwarthmore SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1380-1550Applicants Submitting SAT
62%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 680 |
| SAT Math 25th | 700 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1380 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 760 |
| SAT Math 75th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1550 |
| Average SAT Score | 1470 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Swarthmore College?
Swarthmore College typically requires applicants to be in the top 6 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1380 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1290. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1470 out of 1600. The school ranks #3 in Pennsylvania for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 62 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
Find Your Matches
Search, filter, sort and map over 4,000 U.S. colleges.
Find the college that's right for you. Search by location, major, cost, size, test scores and GPA with College Simply.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1550 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 1465 to 1550 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 1380 to 1465 | Avg - | 5%-9% |
| 1295 to 1380 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 1295 | Low | <3% |
Swarthmore ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
31-34Applicants Submitting ACT
43%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 33 |
| ACT Math 25th | 29 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 31 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 34 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 34 |
| Average ACT Score | 32 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Swarthmore?
Admission data indicates that Swarthmore regularly accepts students with ACT's of 31 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 5 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 30 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 32 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 34 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #4 in Pennsylvania for highest average ACT composite score. 43 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Swarthmore College.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 34 and Above | Good | >17% |
| 32 to 34 | Avg + | 9%-17% |
| 31 to 32 | Avg - | 6%-9% |
| 30 to 31 | Reach | 5%-6% |
| Less than 30 | Low | <5% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.9*Typical High School Grades
A-You will need exceptionally good grades to get into Swarthmore College. 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 #4 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.
High School Class Rank
89% 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 | 89% |
| Top 25% of class | 99% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 6,375 | 4,374 | 10,749 |
| Accepted | 531 | 489 | 1,020 |
| Acceptance Rate | 8% | 11% | 9% |
| Enrolled | 208 | 206 | 414 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 39% | 42% | 41% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 1, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Swarthmore College and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Swarthmore College prefer SAT or ACT?
62% of students submit their SAT scores to Swarthmore. 43% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Swarthmore College?
9% 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 1380 and 1550. 62% 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 31 and 34. 43% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.