1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. [Swarthmore College](/school/swarthmore-college/) 4. / 5. Programs & majors brief Programs & majors brief Copy linkPrint brief # Swarthmore College Majors & Programs Updated October 1, 2026 [Overview](/school/swarthmore-college/)[Cost & aid](/school/swarthmore-college/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/swarthmore-college/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/swarthmore-college/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/swarthmore-college/similar/) **On this page**+ ## 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](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) 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 sciences**131 · 24.3%** - Computer science**54 · 10.0%** - Biological sciences**54 · 10.0%** - Mathematics**53 · 9.8%** - Education**29 · 5.4%** - Other**219 · 40.6%** Find a field Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name 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 | Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Computer and Information Sciences, General | 54 | $150,942 | — | | Economics | 80 | $128,051 | #19 | | Engineering, General | 28 | $78,519 | — | | Political Science and Government | 36 | $58,372 | — | | Biology, General | 30 | $57,754 | — | | Natural Resources Conservation and Research small degree count | 14 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Education, Other small degree count | 19 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Education, General small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 5 | Too few graduates to report | — | | English Language and Literature, General small degree count | 19 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Neurobiology and Neurosciences small degree count | 15 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Mathematics | 53 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 22 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Cognitive Science small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Philosophy small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Astronomy and Astrophysics small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Chemistry small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Physics small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Research and Experimental Psychology | 21 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Sociology and Anthropology small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Anthropology small degree count | 5 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Fine and Studio Arts small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Music small degree count | 5 | Too few graduates to report | — | | History | 23 | Too few graduates to report | — | [Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) ## 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](#page-sources) ## 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](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) ## 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](/methodology/). Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), 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](/about/).