Swarthmore College is a top private liberal arts college located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA. Here is a detailed introduction about it:

School Overview

History of the school: Founded in 1864 by members of the Society of Quakers, it was originally a coeducational institution of higher learning.

School size: The campus covers an area of ​​425 acres and is located in the town of Swarthmore, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia. It is located in the suburbs, with a beautiful and quiet environment, combining the natural beauty of the countryside with the convenient resources of the city.

Student size: The number of undergraduate admissions in the fall of 2022 is 1,625. The school is small in size and focuses on personalized education for students and close interaction between teachers and students.

Academic Strength

Major settings: It offers more than 40 majors and numerous interdisciplinary programs, covering natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts, engineering and other fields. Among them, social sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, computer and information sciences and other majors are more popular.

Teaching mode: Small class teaching is adopted, with a teacher-student ratio of 8:1, and about 71% of the classes have less than 20 students. This teaching model allows students to receive full attention and guidance from teachers, which is conducive to cultivating students' critical thinking and innovation abilities.

Academic Program: It has an honors program to provide outstanding students with a more challenging and in-depth academic experience. In addition, students can also take courses at Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College through the Tri-College Consortium to broaden their learning resources.

Ranking: In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges ranking, the school is tied for 4th among national liberal arts colleges, and its engineering major is ranked 20th. It is also ranked 4th in the best value school.

Campus Life

Student Clubs: The school has more than 100 student organizations, covering academic, cultural, artistic, sports, public welfare and other aspects, such as music clubs, drama clubs, volunteer associations, etc. Students can participate in corresponding club activities according to their interests and hobbies, enrich their extracurricular life, expand interpersonal relationships, and cultivate teamwork spirit and leadership skills.

Accommodation conditions: Provide a variety of campus housing, including co-ed dormitories, girls' dormitories, boys' dormitories, single student apartments, and dormitories for disabled students, etc., to meet the needs of different students. Although only freshmen are required to live on campus, less than 10% of students actually choose to live off campus.

Sports: There are about 20 NCAA Division III teams, with a wide variety of sports, such as basketball, football, tennis, swimming, etc. The school's mascot is the Phoenix Phineas. Students can exercise and strengthen their physical fitness by participating in sports activities, while also cultivating a sense of competition and team honor.

Campus Traditions: There are many unique traditional activities, such as Crum Regatta, where students race homemade boats on Crum Creek; and Worth Stock, where there are live music, dance and food.

Study Abroad Related

Study Abroad Programs: About 40% of students have the opportunity to participate in overseas study programs. The school has established cooperative relationships with many universities around the world, providing students with a broad international exchange platform to help students broaden their international horizons and enhance their cross-cultural communication skills.

Scholarships: The school is committed to meeting the financial needs of students and providing students with generous scholarships and grants. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the school provided more than $45 million in need-based scholarship aid to 55% of students, with an average scholarship amount of $64,615.

Famous Alumni

Sally Ride: The first female astronaut in the United States to enter space.

Alice Paul: One of the important leaders of the American feminist movement, she made outstanding contributions to the fight for the right to vote for American women.

Michael Dukakis: Served as Governor of Massachusetts and participated in the 1988 US presidential election as a Democratic candidate.

Jonathan Franzen: A famous American novelist, his works such as "Corrections" and "Freedom" have won wide acclaim and many literary awards.