Swarthmore College Acceptance Rate (7.5%) & SAT/ACT Scores

Q: What is Swarthmore College's acceptance rate?

Swarthmore College's acceptance rate was 7.5% for fall 2024: it admitted 975 of 13,065 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.

Acceptance rate: 7.5% for fall 2024

SAT, middle 50%: 740–770 reading and writing, 750–790 math

ACT, middle 50%: 33–35 composite

Average net price: $17,930 a year (2022–23)

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Add a test score to compare it with what Swarthmore College reported: an acceptance rate of 7.5% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 33–35.

Plan the grades I need

A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Swarthmore College reviews each application.

Swarthmore College GPA requirements

Swarthmore College doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Swarthmore College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.

Swarthmore College acceptance rate

Swarthmore College admitted 975 of 13,065 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 7.5%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Swarthmore College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, with 1,623 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered Swarthmore College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing	740	760	770
SAT Math	750	780	790
ACT Composite	33	34	35
ACT English	35	35	36
ACT Math	31	33	35

39% submitted SAT scores and 16% submitted ACT scores, as Swarthmore College reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1534 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What Swarthmore College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factor	Status
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.	Required
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.	Required
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.	Required
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.	Considered if submitted
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.	Considered if submitted
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.	Considered if submitted
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.	Considered if submitted
Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations.	Considered if submitted
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.	Considered if submitted
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.	Considered if submitted
Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III.	Not considered

Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with Swarthmore College's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

Swarthmore College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

It doesn't award credit for life experience.

Average net price

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $17,930 a year at Swarthmore College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have a chance at Swarthmore College with a 3.5 GPA?

GPA alone can't tell you here. Swarthmore College admitted 7.5% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.

What is Swarthmore College's acceptance rate?

Swarthmore College's acceptance rate was 7.5% for fall 2024: it admitted 975 of 13,065 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.

How selective is Swarthmore College?

Very hard: fewer than 1 in 10 applicants got in, which makes it one of the hardest colleges to get into. Swarthmore College admitted 7.5% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

What GPA do you need to get into Swarthmore College?

Swarthmore College doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.

How much does GPA matter at Swarthmore College?

It's one factor among several: Swarthmore College requires high school record, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, college preparatory program, test scores, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Does Swarthmore College require the SAT or ACT?

Check Swarthmore College's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Swarthmore College was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 39% sent SAT scores and 16% sent ACT scores.

What are Swarthmore College's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Swarthmore College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 740–770 in reading and writing and 750–790 in math; ACT composite 33–35, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

What is the average net price at Swarthmore College?

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $17,930 a year at Swarthmore College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Does Swarthmore College accept AP credit?

Yes. Swarthmore College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Does Swarthmore College look at legacy status?

Yes. Swarthmore College considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Sources

College Navigator: Swarthmore CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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