“A Quaker-founded intellectual powerhouse where liberal arts meets engineering, the honor code runs deep, and graduates go on to law and medical school at extraordinary rates.”
Swarthmore College, founded in 1864 by members of the Religious Society of Friends, is one of the most intellectually intense liberal arts colleges in America. Located on a stunning 425-acre arboretum campus just 11 miles from Philadelphia, Swarthmore enrolls approximately 1,623 undergraduates and maintains a 7.4% acceptance rate that places it among the most selective schools in the country. What makes Swarthmore unique among liberal arts colleges is its ABET-accredited engineering program — students can earn a B.S. in Engineering with specializations in civil, computer, electrical, or mechanical engineering, all within a rigorous liberal arts framework. This rare combination attracts students who refuse to choose between technical depth and humanistic breadth. The Tri-College Consortium with Bryn Mawr and Haverford (plus cross-registration at UPenn) further expands academic opportunities. Swarthmore's Quaker heritage infuses every aspect of campus life, from the entirely student-run honor code to a deep institutional commitment to social justice and ethical responsibility. The results speak for themselves: Swarthmore graduates are admitted to law school at a 94% rate (vs. 77% nationally) and medical school at 78% (vs. 42% nationally). The college's Class of 2023 reported a median starting salary of $75,000, reflecting the extraordinary outcomes of a Swarthmore education.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Forbes America's Top Colleges
Forbes 2025
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision I
Binding. Significantly higher acceptance rate than RD.
Early Decision II
Binding.
Regular Decision
Notification by late March. Reply by May 1.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$68,766
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Strong departments in English, philosophy, languages, and the arts, grounded in Swarthmore's tradition of close reading, critical thinking, and social engagement.
Economics, political science, and psychology draw large enrollments. The social sciences benefit from Swarthmore's proximity to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. for fieldwork and internships.
Includes the rare ABET-accredited engineering program alongside strong pure science departments. Computer science has become the most popular major. Exceptional undergraduate research culture.
4 years
One of very few ABET-accredited engineering programs at a liberal arts college. Students specialize in civil, computer, electrical, or mechanical engineering while completing a full liberal arts education — a combination virtually no other LAC offers.
4 years
Full cross-registration with Bryn Mawr and Haverford, plus access to UPenn courses. Students can complete majors at partner institutions, access shared library resources, and ride shuttles between campuses.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $65,494
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
