Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College admitted 977 of 12,995 applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (7.5%).

Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2025 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.

What stands out at Swarthmore College

Three things Swarthmore College published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.

Early round1 of 3

Early Decision admitted 17.8%. The regular round admitted 6.4%.

2.8×

the regular-round rate

A ratio between two rates the school published. Not a change in anyone’s odds.

Early Decision17.8%
Regular round6.4%

228 of 1,281 early applicants were admitted, against 749 of 11,714 in the regular round. Early Decision is binding, and you can only use it at one school, which is exactly why the gap is worth knowing before you choose where to spend it.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Essays2 of 3

Swarthmore College files the essay under “very important”.

That is the top of the scale the form offers, and the only other factors this school puts there are Course rigor, GPA, Recommendations and Class rank.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Scores sent3 of 3

40.1% of the enrolled class sent an SAT.

The SAT band on this page describes that share of the class, not all of it. Another 14.8% sent an ACT. Swarthmore College files test scores under “considered”.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Every figure, in full

The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.

Acceptance rate

7.5%

977 admitted of 12,995 applicants

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

SAT, middle 50%

1480–1550

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

ACT, middle 50%

33–35

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Enrolled students who sent an SAT

40.1%

Counted per test: a student may send both.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Enrolled students who sent an ACT

14.8%

Counted per test: a student may send both.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Where do you actually stand at Swarthmore College?

The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.

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What Swarthmore College says it weighs

The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.

  • Essayvery important

    Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

  • Course rigorvery important

    Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

  • GPAvery important

    Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

  • Recommendationsvery important

    Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

  • Class rankvery important

    Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

  • Test scoresconsidered

    Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Not considered

  • Demonstrated interest

    Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

The early round, in counts

Two published rates side by side. Early applicants are a different group of students, so the gap is a fact about those pools, not a lever anyone can pull.

Early Decision

2.8× the rate

Early Decision admitted 17.8% (228 of 1,281), against 6.4% in the regular round.

749 of 11,714 in the comparison pool.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

The waitlist, as the school reported it

Published counts, including the ones schools rarely lead with.

Admitted from the waitlist
14

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

What students actually pay

Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.

Average net price: $23,149 a year.

Family income under $30k
$7,690
$30k–$48k
$4,951
$48k–$75k
$11,444
$75k–$110k
$22,443
Over $110k
$47,544

Source: the College Scorecard

Essays on this application

4 essay prompts on the application: 4 you would write.

Published deadlines

Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.

  • Early DecisionNovember 15, 2026

    Verified October 3, 2026 · Source

  • Early Decision 2January 4, 2027

    Verified October 3, 2026 · Source

  • Regular DecisionJanuary 4, 2027

    Verified October 3, 2026 · Source

More colleges on the record

Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.

Other colleges in Pennsylvania

The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.

Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate

Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.

Build the list this school belongs on.

The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.

See where I stand ›

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