Transcripts uploaded to the QuestBridge application by high school counselors are accepted as official, or your high school counselor can send transcripts directly to the Admissions Office (see Contact Information below).

Please do not submit duplicate application materials to the Admissions Office. 

Swarthmore is test-optional. This means you will have the option to submit scores, and you will have the option for submitted scores to not be considered.

If you have ranked Swarthmore College for the QuestBridge National College Match, you must submit the Swarthmore Test-Optional Form in order to indicate whether you’d like your test scores considered. You must complete this form by the deadline indicated by Swarthmore via email. You have access to this form in your Swarthmore applicant portal. If you do not submit this form by the deadline, they will consider any ACT or SAT scores self-reported or officially submitted) as part of your QuestBridge Match application review and any other future application review. It is very important that you submit this form as soon as possible.

Learn more about Swarthmore’s test-optional policy. Official scores will be required for students who enroll at Swarthmore and request that their scores be considered for admission.

For students who would like to have their SAT or ACT scores considered, Swarthmore accepts official scores from the College Board and/or ACT as well as self-reported test scores. Swarthmore will use self-reported scores provided on the QuestBridge Application or the Standardized Test Scores (Self-Reported) Form in Swarthmore's application portal. The application portal can be used to submit any new scores.

Swarthmore does not require the optional Essay section of the SAT or the optional Writing section of the ACT. If submitted, scores from those sections will not be considered in the application review.

For students submitting an ACT Composite, we do not require you to take the optional science section. If you submit an ACT Composite Score from a test in which you chose to take the science section, you must include the science subscore.

Swarthmore does not require an English language proficiency score, but if the majority of your education has been taught in a non-English language curriculum, you are encouraged to provide results from the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test.

For information on additional tests, including AP and IB exams, please read Swarthmore's standardized testing policy.

If you have valued the arts (creative writing, dance, music, spoken word poetry/narrative, theater, and the visual arts), or they have been important to you during your high school experience, you may share samples of your work or other materials, free of charge. Please visit Swarthmore’s Slideroom page for additional information.

Swarthmore will consider all students, regardless of citizenship, for the National College Match. If your primary citizenship is not the United States, you may see this form in your applicant portal. It must be completed by the deadline provided. Information shared on this form remains confidential

All applicants must submit the CSS Profile online by the November 1 deadline.

Please select Early Decision or Regular Decision as your admission decision plan.
If your parents are divorced, separated, or never married, your non-custodial parent must also submit a CSS Profile detailing their household financial information. The non-custodial parent’s application will be separate and confidential from the custodial parent. You should review the detailed instructions on the College Board website.
 

Upload to IDOC a complete copy of your parents' 2024 federal income tax returns (signed, including all worksheets and schedules, W-2s, 1099s, and any other earnings statements used to file the federal income tax return). Upload documents in PDF format to the IDOC <https://idoc.collegeboard.org/idoc/> service. If your parents have any involvement or interest in a corporation or partnership, a copy of the corporate/partnership tax returns (all worksheets and schedules) and the corresponding Schedule(s) K-1 are required.

If your parents are divorced, separated, or never married, the non-custodial parent must upload to IDOC a copy of their 2024 federal income tax return (signed, including all worksheets and schedules, W-2s, 1099s, and any other earnings statements used to file the federal income tax return). The non-custodial parent should upload documents in PDF format to the IDOC service. If the non-custodial parent has any involvement or interest in a corporation or partnership, they must submit a copy of the corporate/partnership tax returns (all worksheets and schedules), as well as their corresponding Schedule(s) K-1. Contact the College Board with additional questions about the application process.

If you do not have any contact with your non-custodial parent, you may submit a request to waive the requirement of their financial information. Download the Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Petition. Additional information may be requested by the Financial Aid Office as files are reviewed.
 

The FAFSA will not be available until at least October 2025. Please complete the FAFSA as soon as it is available and include Swarthmore College.

The FAFSA is required for US Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens. You are required to submit the FAFSA ahead of the November 1 deadline. Undocumented and DACA-eligible students are not required to submit the FAFSA.

In order for the IRS to disclose Federal Tax information (FTI) to the Department of Education (ED) on the FAFSA form, the student and parents (contributors) must provide consent. This means that the vast majority of contributors who filed a 2024 United States Federal Income Tax Return with the IRS will automatically have their FTI populated onto the applicant’s FAFSA. 

Finalists who do not match with a binding college may apply to Swarthmore through Winter Early Decision.

Please complete the Swarthmore-QuestBridge Intent to Apply Form and choose the Winter Early Decision plan. You will then receive instructions on submitting the supplement materials and the Early Decision Agreement form.

All documents must be submitted to Swarthmore by January 4 for your application to be considered.

Follow the instructions below to apply through Regular Decision.

Finalists who ranked Swarthmore and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)

Finalists who did not rank Swarthmore

Only if submitting scores and there are new scores to report

Updated transcripts should include first semester/trimester senior year grades

Only if submitting scores and there are new scores to report

Only if submitting scores and there are new scores to report

Students who have valued the arts during high school can share samples of their work, free of charge. This year, we are accepting samples of:

• Dance: Performance and choreography
• Creative Writing: Written and spoken word poetry and fiction
• Music: Performance and composition
• Theater: Performance and production (including costume, lighting, set, and sound design)
• Visual Art: Ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, sculpting, and mixed media

Art supplements provide the Admissions committee with examples of students’ artistic talents and are subject to faculty review. Students will be able to complete their art supplement in the Swarthmore Applicant Portal after they submit their application for admission. 

Finalists who ranked Swarthmore and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)

Finalists who did not rank Swarthmore

US Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens

Submit via the College Board IDOC service