Swarthmore, Pennsylvania · ★ — / 5 Overall
Private not-for-profit · 4-year · Bachelor's
Swarthmore College ( SWORTH-mor, locally SWAHTH-mor) is a private liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the earliest coeducational colleges in the United States. It was established as a college under the Religious Society of Friends. By 1906, Swarthmore had dropped its religious affiliation and officially became non-sectarian. Swarthmore is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. It is a member of the Tri-College Consortium, a cooperative academic arrangement with Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College. Swarthmore is also affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania through the Quaker Consortium, which allows students to cross-register for classes at all four institutions. Swarthmore's alumni include six Nobel Prize winners.
National Liberal Arts Colleges
Ranked #4 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (2026). Source: US News ↗
Liberal Arts Colleges
Ranked #10 in Liberal Arts Colleges (2025). Source: Washington Monthly ↗
National rank
Ranked #23 in Forbes Top Colleges (2026). Source: Forbes ↗
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500 College Ave, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 19081
Visit University SiteValue rank
Ranked #37 on Washington Monthly Best Bang for the Buck (2025). Source: WM Best Value ↗
National rank
Ranked #153 in the US by CWUR (2026). Source: CWUR US ↗
World rank
Ranked #676 globally by CWUR (2026). Source: CWUR World ↗
25th–75th percentile
SAT total: 1460–1560
SAT ERW: 720–770
SAT math: 740–790
ACT composite: 33–34
Total: 1,644
Undergrad: 1,644
Undergrad full-time: 1,641
Part-time: 3
In-state
Tuition: $62,412
Total cost on campus: $84,103
Out-of-state
Tuition: $62,412
Total cost on campus: $84,103
Room & board: $18,964
Books & supplies: $760
Receive aid: 60%
Avg grant aid: $62,084
Pell grant recipients: 20%
Rent: $773 / mo
Average city asking rent, as a roommate share. Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Coffee: $5.00
State average cafe price. Numbeo, 2024.
Gas: $4.54 / gal
State average price. AAA.
Average meal: $14.90
Published board plan, per meal. IPEDS.