Programs & majors brief

Swarthmore College Majors & Programs

Updated

Which majors earn the most at Swarthmore College?

The highest-earning programs at Swarthmore College are also among its largest. Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn a median of $150,942 four years after completion, from 54 degrees awarded.

Economics is the largest single program, with 80 degrees awarded and median earnings of $128,051. Azimuth ranks it #19 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field, and #3 in Pennsylvania.

Further down the earnings scale, Political Science awards 36 degrees and its graduates earn a median of $58,372. Biology is similar in size and outcome, with 30 degrees awarded and median earnings of $57,754.

The spread between the top and bottom of these large programs is wide, and the fields that pay the most are not the ones that award the most degrees.

Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

  • Social sciences131 · 24.3%
  • Computer science54 · 10.0%
  • Biological sciences54 · 10.0%
  • Mathematics53 · 9.8%
  • Education29 · 5.4%
  • Other219 · 40.6%

28 of 28 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first five matching programs
Computer and Information Sciences, General 54 degrees awarded
$150,942
Economics 80 degrees awarded
$128,051
Engineering, General 28 degrees awarded
$78,519
Political Science and Government 36 degrees awarded
$58,372
Biology, General 30 degrees awarded
$57,754

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs
Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks
ProgramDegrees awarded4-yr earningsField rank
Computer and Information Sciences, General54$150,942—
Economics80$128,051#19
Engineering, General28$78,519—
Political Science and Government36$58,372—
Biology, General30$57,754—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research small degree count14Too few graduates to report—
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count6Too few graduates to report—
Education, Other small degree count19Too few graduates to report—
Education, General small degree count10Too few graduates to report—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count7Too few graduates to report—
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
English Language and Literature, General small degree count19Too few graduates to report—
Neurobiology and Neurosciences small degree count15Too few graduates to report—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Mathematics53Too few graduates to report—
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution22Too few graduates to report—
Cognitive Science small degree count6Too few graduates to report—
Philosophy small degree count11Too few graduates to report—
Astronomy and Astrophysics small degree count11Too few graduates to report—
Chemistry small degree count8Too few graduates to report—
Physics small degree count8Too few graduates to report—
Research and Experimental Psychology21Too few graduates to report—
Sociology and Anthropology small degree count10Too few graduates to report—
Anthropology small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
Fine and Studio Arts small degree count16Too few graduates to report—
Music small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
History23Too few graduates to report—

Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings

What are the largest programs at Swarthmore College?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded
Economics
80
Computer and Information Sciences, General
54
Mathematics
53
Political Science and Government
36
Biology, General
30
Engineering, General
28
History
23
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
22
Research and Experimental Psychology
21
Education, Other
19

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions

How do Swarthmore College majors rank nationally?

National program rankings

  1. Economics#19

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

How Azimuth compares programs across colleges

Further analysis

Swarthmore College awards the largest share of its bachelor's degrees in Social Sciences, followed by Biological Sciences and Computer & Information Sciences. Those three families account for 24.3%, 10.0%, and 10.0% of degrees awarded.

Program rankings rest on four-year earnings among federally aided completers, median debt, and cohort size instead of reputation, and earnings differ widely by field. Only 1 program carries an Azimuth national rank, though 5 fields publish four-year earnings data.

Economics is the largest program at 80 degrees awarded, ranking #19 nationally and #3 in Pennsylvania. Its graduates earn $128,051 four years after completion.

Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn the most at $150,942, while Engineering completers report $78,519.

Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: methodology.

Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.