Swarthmore College

What does Swarthmore College offer in terms of athletics?

Swarthmore's varsity teams, known as the Garnet, compete in NCAA Division III and the Centennial Conference. Varsity offerings include sports such as basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, and track and field. This is distinct from club and recreational participation.

Students who do not join a varsity roster can explore club sports, intramurals, and fitness facilities, with options varying by season and student interest. The broader reported sports list includes activities such as ultimate Frisbee and rugby, but a sport's appearance on that list does not mean it is a varsity program. Division III institutions do not award athletic scholarships; students considering varsity recruitment should discuss both team expectations and the regular admissions and need-based-aid processes.

What student groups and Associations are available at Swarthmore College?

Swarthmore students can participate in organizations spanning academic interests, cultural communities, public service, arts, media, and recreation. Student government offers a route to campus-wide representation, while student-run publications, theater, radio, and choral groups provide different ways to create and organize with peers.

Examples of campus media include The Phoenix, a student newspaper, and WSRN, a student radio station. Organization activity and recognition can change from year to year, so a prospective student interested in a particular group should consult the current student-organization directory. An organization led by students is different from an institution-operated counseling, health, or academic service, even when the two collaborate on events.

Who studies at Swarthmore College?

Swarthmore is a small, predominantly undergraduate institution. Reported enrollment was 1,623 students, including an entering first-time group of 427. Its reported student-to-faculty ratio was 7 to 1; that ratio describes overall staffing relative to enrollment, not the size of every class.

The student body draws heavily from outside Pennsylvania. In the reported geographic breakdown, about 10% were Pennsylvania residents, about 77% came from other U.S. states, and about 14% came from foreign countries; rounding can make categories total slightly more than 100%. Most enrolled students were in traditional undergraduate age ranges, while relatively few were age 25 or older. That pattern is relevant to adult applicants looking for a large population of peers returning to college.

The reported racial and ethnic counts include 490 White students, 271 Asian students, 267 Hispanic or Latino students, 176 students identifying with two or more races, and 135 Black or African American students. These categories describe enrollment, not an individual's experiences or the views of any community.

How does student life look like at Swarthmore College?

Everyday life at Swarthmore is strongly residential: a reported 93% of students live on campus, while about 6% commute. Academic and social activities therefore often share the same setting, and students considering the college should expect a campus-centered experience rather than a primarily commuter schedule.

First-year programming helps new students navigate courses, advising, and community expectations. Beyond classes, students can use campus gathering spaces, arts events, recreation, and student-organized activities. Health care and personal or psychological counseling are available through campus services. A student seeking a specific accommodation or support arrangement should review that service's eligibility and appointment process, since the existence of an office does not mean every service is available on demand.

What libraries are available to students at Swarthmore College?

McCabe Library is Swarthmore's main library. Students also use specialized library spaces and collections, including Cornell Science Library, Underhill Music and Dance Library, the Friends Historical Library, and the Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

Library services extend beyond print books: students can consult research staff, use databases and online journals, request materials through interlibrary loan, and find spaces for individual or group work. Reservable study rooms are reported as available. Students doing primary-source research should check collection access procedures in advance, while those relying on late-night study space should check current building hours rather than assume a library study area is open around the clock.