Swarthmore is a highly selective, private, coeducational, residential college with a liberal arts and engineering curriculum. Located just 11 miles outside Philadelphia, our 425-acre arboretum campus inspires students with gorgeous gardens, rolling lawns, and wooded hiking trails — while a train station at the foot of campus connects them to the vibrant cultural offerings of one of the country’s largest and most diverse cities. Since its founding by Quakers in 1864, Swarthmore College has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good. Today, “Swatties” embrace the Quaker concept of collaboration instead of competition through a pass/fail first semester and without a published GPA or class rank. The range of perspectives, identities, and histories represented by Swarthmore students, faculty, and staff contribute to the community's strong sense of open dialogue and engagement with ideas and issues.

Swarthmore’s campus will take your breath away with tens of thousands of plant species, making our grounds an actual arboretum. You’ll find students studying in the clusters of quaint stone buildings surrounded by rose gardens, in the sprawling lawns on adirondack chairs, or in sustainably-designed modern research facilities. Swarthmore’s appeal goes beyond our sublime exterior. Students attend small seminar classes with some of the most engaged and accomplished professors teaching today — and some of the most fascinating and curious students. One of the best ways to experience Swarthmore is to visit campus. If that’s not possible, we encourage students to explore our website and virtual tour experiences and contact their regional admissions dean to make connections with current Swatties and professors in their fields of interest.