Swarthmore College Acceptance Rate
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 14,287
- Admitted
- 992
- Yield
- 41.8%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Swarthmore College's acceptance rate has fallen from 17% in 2014–15 to 6.9% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 5,540 to 14,287 (+158%) over that period.
Its 6.9% rate makes Swarthmore College more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 108 tracked Pennsylvania schools, it is more selective than about 98%.
Swarthmore College has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 41.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 5,540 | 943 | 17% | 407 |
| 2015–16 | 7,818 | 976 | 12.5% | 407 |
| 2016–17 | 7,717 | 988 | 12.8% | 415 |
| 2017–18 | 9,382 | 1,004 | 10.7% | 392 |
| 2018–19 | 10,749 | 1,020 | 9.5% | 414 |
| 2019–20 | 11,442 | 1,022 | 8.9% | 417 |
| 2020–21 | 11,630 | 1,054 | 9.1% | 374 |
| 2021–22 | 13,012 | 1,013 | 7.8% | 454 |
| 2022–23 | 14,707 | 1,019 | 6.9% | 433 |
| 2023–24 | 14,287 | 992 | 6.9% | 415 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 8,296 | 502 | 6.1% |
| Men | 5,991 | 490 | 8.2% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 720–770 | 40% |
| SAT Math | 740–790 | |
| ACT Composite | 33–34 | 14% |
How Swarthmore College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Swarthmore College's acceptance rate?
Swarthmore College's acceptance rate is 6.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (992 admitted of 14,287 applicants).
Is Swarthmore College test optional?
Swarthmore College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Swarthmore College?
Swarthmore College received 14,287 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 992.
What SAT score do you need for Swarthmore College?
Admitted students at Swarthmore College typically scored 720–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 740–790 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Swarthmore College getting harder to get into?
Swarthmore College has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 17% in 2014–15 to 6.9% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.swarthmore.edu/.