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Swarthmore Admission Requirements

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

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Your chances of getting into Swarthmore College

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

6.9%
Admission Difficulty for Swarthmore College
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Elite 
Applicant Competition Extreme 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Swarthmore is 6.9%.  Its admission rate is the 2nd lowest in Pennsylvania and the 22nd lowest the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Swarthmore and can you get accepted?

Swarthmore is an extremely competitive school to get into and is highly selective who it accepts. You have a very low chance of acceptance even even if you meet the admission criteria. It's critical that you meet their GPA requirements to get past the first round of consideration. Last year, only 1,019 out of the 14,707 who applied were admitted.

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 or better. 42% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Swarthmore?

7% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

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Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Swarthmore College you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.9 or better
  • Earn A- grades in high school
  • Score 1500 on the SAT
  • Score 33 on the ACT
  • Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class

Swarthmore GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.9*

Typical High School Grades 

A-

What GPA do you need to get into Swarthmore College?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Swarthmore are to have around a 3.9 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

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. If your grades do not meet the GPA requirements, you will have very little chance of being considered for admission.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Swarthmore is 3.9 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #3 in Pennsylvania for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Swarthmore is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.9 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

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Swarthmore SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Swarthmore College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 42% of students submitted SAT scores and 19% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

1440-1560

Applicants Submitting SAT 

42%
SAT Scores for Swarthmore College
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 710
Math 25th Percentile 730
Composite 25th Percentile 1440
SAT Scores for Swarthmore College
SAT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 770
Math 75th Percentile 790
Composite 75th Percentile 1560
Average SAT Score 1500

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Swarthmore College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Swarthmore is 1500 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1440-1560. Students who get into Swarthmore College score in the top 3 percent of all SAT test takers..  Swarthmore ranks #3 in the state of Pennsylvania and #30 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1500 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Swarthmore regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1440 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1440, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1380, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Swarthmore College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1500 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1500, you have around a 7% chance of being admitted. A 1560 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 13% chance of getting in.

Swarthmore College admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1560 and Above Good >13%
1500 to 1560 Avg + 7%-13%
1440 to 1500 Avg - 4%-7%
1380 to 1440 Reach 2%-4%
Less than 1380 Low <2%
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Swarthmore ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

32-35 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

19%
ACT Scores for Swarthmore College
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 34
Math 25th Percentile 30
Composite 25th Percentile 32
ACT Scores for Swarthmore College
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 36
Math 75th Percentile 35
Composite 75th Percentile 35
Average ACT Score 33

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Swarthmore?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Swarthmore is 33, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 32 and 35.  The school ranks #4 in Pennsylvania and #50 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 33. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 32 and score in the score in the top 3 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 30.

19 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Swarthmore College.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Swarthmore College is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Swarthmore for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 33 score has around 7% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 15% with a 35 ACT score.

Swarthmore College admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
35 and Above Good >15%
33 to 35 Avg + 7%-15%
32 to 33 Avg - 5%-7%
31 to 32 Reach 3%-5%
Less than 31 Low <3%
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High School Class Rank

90% of Swarthmore College freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Swarthmore College students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 90%
Top 25% of class 99%
Top 50% of class 100%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Swarthmore College admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 8,660 6,047 14,707
Accepted 530 489 1,019
Acceptance Rate 6% 8% 7%
Enrolled 229 204 433
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 43% 42% 42%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 4, 2025

Days left to Apply

57

Applicants have 57 days left until the Fall 2024 term applications are due on Jan 4, 2025.

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?

Swarthmore College Application Requirements
Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
High School Class Rank Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Swarthmore College
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit No
Credit for Life Experiences No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Swarthmore is extremely competitive, you have a very low likelihood of acceptance. It is critical that you earn at least a 3.9 GPA to have any chance. Additionally, you need to score at least a 1500 on the SAT and optimally 1560 to put yourself in a competitive position. For ACT scores, you should really strive for a 33 to have the best chance of getting in.

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to Swarthmore College often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=216287 IPEDS survey data for Swarthmore College.

Last updated February 24, 2024