Swarthmore College

What Swarthmore College does

Swarthmore College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1864 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The institution enrolls approximately 1,702 undergraduate students, with roughly 430 students per entering class drawn from a 13,065-applicant pool yielding a 7.5% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028. The academic product comprises 600+ courses across 40+ majors, including the only ABET-accredited engineering program at a U.S. liberal arts college, delivered by 173 full-time tenure-track faculty (100% with terminal degrees) at an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. A distinctive Honors Program introduced in 1922 uses external examiners, and the First-Year Experience offers a pass/fail first semester; cross-registration is available through the Tri-College Consortium with Bryn Mawr and Haverford and with the University of Pennsylvania.

The College operates a 425-acre arboretum campus in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia, anchored by the Scott Arboretum's 4,000+ plant varieties. Ninety-four percent of students live on campus. The business model relies on tuition and fees (37% of revenue), endowment returns (55%), and gifts and other sources (5%); total operating expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 were $220.2 million, supported by a $2.7 billion endowment that ranks 15th in the U.S. on a per-student basis. Total cost of attendance for 2025-26 is $90,692; 54% of students receive need-based aid averaging $71,465. Beginning Fall 2027, the Swarthmore Tuition Guarantee will provide tuition-free attendance for families earning $200,000 or less with typical assets. Distribution is direct via the Undergraduate Admissions Office, with marketing across the college website, social media platforms, campus tours, and email outreach.

Name

Swarthmore College

Legal name

Swarthmore College

Website

https://swarthmore.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1864

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Swarthmore College is a private, nonprofit Quaker-founded liberal arts college in Pennsylvania enrolling approximately 1,702 undergraduates, offering 40+ majors with a unique ABET-accredited engineering program and the distinctive 1922 Honors Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Liberal Arts)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Selective/Highly Selective Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAJ), Great Books/Core Curriculum Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAM), Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)

Keywords

• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate residential college
• Honors program
• Engineering liberal arts
• Study abroad programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Swarthmore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue source from student tuition and fees. Total cost of attendance for 2025-26 is $90,692 including tuition, housing, food, and student activity fees.
2. Endowment: The College's $2.7 billion endowment generates investment returns that support operations. Endowment per student ranks 15th in the U.S. Sources of revenue include 37% student fees, 55% endowment, and 5% other sources.
3. Gifts and Donations: Charitable contributions from alumni, parents, and friends of the College. The College received its largest gift of $50 million from Eugene Lang '38 in 2012 for engineering and science facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Swarthmore College is a private, residential liberal arts college offering a four-year undergraduate education across more than 40 majors and 600+ courses, with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Its core academic experience combines a traditional liberal arts curriculum with a unique Honors Program (using external examiners), an ABET-accredited engineering program, undergraduate research opportunities, and study-abroad options through the Tri-College Consortium and Global Engagement office. Total cost of attendance for 2025-26 is $90,692, supported by need-blind admissions and 100% need-met financial aid.

Product overview

Swarthmore College is a private liberal arts college offering undergraduate education across more than 40 academic programs. The institution provides a unified liberal arts education experience with no modular product structure. Key offerings include the Honors Program (a unique seminar-based program with external examiners), the First-Year Experience (featuring pass/fail first semester), study abroad opportunities through the Global Engagement office, undergraduate research programs, and the Tri-College Consortium (cross-registration with Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and the University of Pennsylvania). The college also operates libraries, athletics programs, and various student life facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Honors Program: A distinctive honors program emphasizing intellectual self-direction with small seminar classes and oral/written exams given by external experts.
• Scott Arboretum

Products and services

• Undergraduate Liberal Arts Degree Programs Four-year residential bachelor's degree programs across more than 40 majors and 600+ courses, with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 173 full-time tenure-track faculty, 100% of whom hold terminal degrees in their fields. Designed for high-achieving high school graduates admitted through a holistic process.
• Honors Program A distinctive honors program emphasizing intellectual self-direction through small seminar classes and oral and written examinations administered by external experts. Since 1922, over 6,000 students have participated. For enrolled Swarthmore undergraduates who meet program criteria.
• ABET-Accredited Engineering Program Bachelor of science engineering degree program offered within the liberal arts college setting—the only liberal arts college in the U.S. with an ABET-accredited engineering program. Combines technical engineering preparation with a broad liberal arts curriculum. For undergraduate students seeking engineering credentials alongside liberal arts education.
• First-Year Experience with Pass/Fail First Semester A first-year program featuring a pass/fail first semester to allow incoming students to explore coursework without grade pressure, easing the transition into rigorous liberal arts study. For newly enrolled undergraduate students.
• Tri-College Consortium Cross-Registration Cross-institutional course enrollment and shared library resources (Tripod catalog) with Bryn Mawr and Haverford colleges, plus cross-registration with the University of Pennsylvania. Includes shuttle services and joint programs such as Tri-Co Philly urban-focused courses. For currently enrolled Swarthmore students.
• Global Engagement Study Abroad Program Study abroad opportunities at more than 100 international locations, coordinated through the Global Engagement office, with international medical and security support via International SOS. For enrolled undergraduates seeking international academic experience.
• Undergraduate Research Program Structured undergraduate research and independent creative projects, with 66% of students participating. Supported by Swarthmore's Carnegie Research Activity designation (one of only 32 liberal arts colleges nationally). For enrolled undergraduate students across disciplines.
• Scott Arboretum A 425-acre arboretum with over 4,000 ornamental plant varieties, established in 1929 as a living memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott '1895. Educational mission to display plants suited for home gardens and educate the public. Open to students, campus visitors, and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 21.8% of graduates complete doctoral programs (3rd highest in nation)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bryn Mawr CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-College Consortium member providing expanded academic and social opportunities. Students can take courses at Bryn Mawr, access shared library resources (Tripod catalog), and participate in joint programs including shuttle services between campuses.
• Haverford CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-College Consortium member offering cross-institutional enrollment, shared library resources through Tripod, and collaborative programs such as the Tri-Co Philly urban-focused courses and shuttle transportation.
• University of PennsylvaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-registration agreement allowing Swarthmore students to take courses at UPenn. Also collaborates on research initiatives including the Early Novels Database project and Philadelphia Behavioral Science Initiative.
• Scott ArboretumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott '1895, encompassing 300+ acres of campus with over 4,000 ornamental plant varieties. Educational mission to display plants suited for home gardens and educate the public.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pomona College: A member of the Claremont Consortium and one of the most selective liberal arts colleges on the West Coast. Comparable to Swarthmore in selectivity, outcomes (PhD production), and residential model.
• Wellesley College: Top-tier liberal arts college in Massachusetts with comparable selectivity, residential experience, and graduate school placement rates. Comparable to Swarthmore in academic profile and outcomes.
• Middlebury College: Highly selective liberal arts college in Vermont with comparable size, selectivity, and outcomes. Competes directly with Swarthmore for high-achieving applicants, particularly those interested in languages and international studies.
• Amherst College: Elite private liberal arts college in Massachusetts with similar selectivity, residential model, and curricular breadth. Amherst is one of Swarthmore's closest institutional peers in the 'Little Ivies' cohort.
• Haverford College: Member of the Tri-College Consortium with Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr, sharing cross-registration, library resources, and shuttle services. A directly comparable liberal arts college just 8 miles from Swarthmore.
• Bryn Mawr College: Member of the Tri-College Consortium with Swarthmore and Haverford. A women's liberal arts college with comparable selectivity, academic rigor, and shared academic resources.
• Davidson College: Highly selective liberal arts college in North Carolina with comparable residential model, academic outcomes, and post-graduate placement rates. Competes with Swarthmore for top-tier Southern applicants.
• Williams College: Highly selective private liberal arts college in Massachusetts with a comparable endowment profile, residential model, and demand funnel. Often ranked alongside Swarthmore among the top liberal arts colleges nationally.
• Bowdoin College: Highly selective liberal arts college in Maine with similar size, endowment strength, and academic outcomes. A direct competitor for the same applicant pool.
• Carleton College: Elite Midwestern liberal arts college with comparable size, selectivity, and academic profile. A direct peer in admissions recruiting and a fellow top producer of doctoral degrees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/swarthmore
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@swarthmore
• Facebookfacebook.com/44667262131
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swarthmore-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/swarthmorecollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@swarthmorecollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swarthmore College