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- About About
Swarthmore College
Overview
Swarthmore College offers liberal arts and engineering programs within a community that values different viewpoints, identities, and histories. Since its founding in 1864, Swarthmore has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good. Swatties collaborate, rather than compete; they like to dive deep and then put their ideas to work. The idyllic, 425-acre arboretum campus features rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails. Swarthmore is located just 11 miles from Philadelphia, with a train station at the foot of campus. Students choose from more than 600 different courses with over 40 programs of study, ranging from peace & conflict studies to an ABET-accredited engineering program. In addition, students may cross-register for classes at Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and the University of Pennsylvania. Swarthmore’s self-selected Honors Program is distinctive: it features small seminar classes that explore specific topics with remarkable collaboration between students and faculty, and culminates in examinations conducted by external experts in their fields. Swarthmore also offers a wide range of resources for budding entrepreneurs and students who are passionate about public service. The Center for Innovation and Leadership provides tools for students to develop and implement their ideas while building entrepreneurship and leadership skills. Swarthmore’s Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility supports students who engage in impactful work beyond their academic pursuits.
Incoming students join a vibrant and collaborative campus community that embraces the knowledge that living among people with diverse backgrounds challenges assumptions and increases shared understanding. Students who are from underrepresented, low income, and first-generation-to-college backgrounds can connect with their peers (as well as faculty and staff) through programs offered through the Dean’s Office at the Intercultural Center, Black Cultural Center, and other spaces on campus.
Swarthmore also ensures that college is affordable and accessible to all with loan-free financial aid that meets 100% of a student’s determined need. There are also no hidden fees — students never pay extra for things like events, printing, laundry, lab classes, and sports. Furthermore, every student receives an annual $750 allowance for textbooks and required course materials.
Fun Fact: In a recent national survey, Swarthmore ranked third-highest in the country for earned doctorates across disciplines.
