How this school serves students from different economic backgrounds, including Pell students, first-generation pathways, and long-term mobility outcomes.
Swarthmore College admits about 7.5% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,490 and 1,560, and ACT scores typically fall between 33 and 35. Among enrolled undergraduates, 19.5% receive Pell Grants and 26.9% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is limited, at 0.0%. Azimuth ranks Swarthmore College #643 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects the scale question: at an 7.5% admit rate, Swarthmore's admission funnel is narrow, and the number of low-income and first-generation students it enrolls is limited relative to institutions that admit larger shares of their applicant pools. The six-year graduation rate is 92.3%, with 94.0% of first-year students returning for their second year. Azimuth ranks Swarthmore College #456 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern at Swarthmore reflects the selective institution dynamic: students who gain admission complete at high rates and go on to strong post-graduation outcomes — but the institution's admission scale limits how many students benefit from that pathway. For families weighing access and long-term success together, Swarthmore's outcomes speak to the quality of support for enrolled students, even as the admission volume constrains the institution's broader mobility impact.
Swarthmore College admits about 7.5% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,490 and 1,560, and ACT scores typically fall between 33 and 35. Among enrolled undergraduates, 19.5% receive Pell Grants and 26.9% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is limited, at 0.0%. Azimuth ranks Swarthmore College #643 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects the scale question: at an 7.5% admit rate, Swarthmore's admission funnel is narrow, and the number of low-income and first-generation students it enrolls is limited relative to institutions that admit larger shares of their applicant pools. The six-year graduation rate is 92.3%, with 94.0% of first-year students returning for their second year. Azimuth ranks Swarthmore College #456 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern at Swarthmore reflects the selective institution dynamic: students who gain admission complete at high rates and go on to strong post-graduation outcomes — but the institution's admission scale limits how many students benefit from that pathway. For families weighing access and long-term success together, Swarthmore's outcomes speak to the quality of support for enrolled students, even as the admission volume constrains the institution's broader mobility impact.
Swarthmore College admits about 7.5% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,490 and 1,560, and ACT scores typically fall between 33 and 35. Among enrolled undergraduates, 19.5% receive Pell Grants and 26.9% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is limited, at 0.0%. Azimuth ranks Swarthmore College #643 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects the scale question: at an 7.5% admit rate, Swarthmore's admission funnel is narrow, and the number of low-income and first-generation students it enrolls is limited relative to institutions that admit larger shares of their applicant pools. The six-year graduation rate is 92.3%, with 94.0% of first-year students returning for their second year. Azimuth ranks Swarthmore College #456 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern at Swarthmore reflects the selective institution dynamic: students who gain admission complete at high rates and go on to strong post-graduation outcomes — but the institution's admission scale limits how many students benefit from that pathway. For families weighing access and long-term success together, Swarthmore's outcomes speak to the quality of support for enrolled students, even as the admission volume constrains the institution's broader mobility impact.
