Swarthmore College's Acceptance Results for the Class of 2029
Arkesh P.
Chief Operating Officer
Summary
Swarthmore College has completed its admissions cycle for the Class of 2029. Swarthmore admitted 965 students out of 12,995 applicants, resulting in a 7.4% overall acceptance rate, down just slightly from 7.5% last year, revealing a consistently challenging admissions landscape for prospective students. In this post you'll find additional breakdowns and analysis to help prospective applicants better understand Swarthmore's admissions landscape.
Swarthmore's Overall Acceptance Rate by Year
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Applicants | 12,995 | 13,065 | 14,287 |
| Number of Acceptances | 965 | 975 | 969 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.4% | 7.5% | 6.7% |
Key Trends and Insights
- ED acceptance rate statistics for the Class of 2029 have not been reported yet by Swarthmore, limiting more nuanced insights into the school's true level of selectivity.
- The total number of applicants has decreased over the past three years, from 14,287 for the Class of 2027 down to 12,995 this year (Class of 2029).
- Overall acceptance rates at Swarthmore have remained below 8% for three consecutive years, highlighting the college's high level of selectivity.
Broader Admissions Trends:
- Pandemic-Era Rise in Applications: Applications to Swarthmore jumped almost 12% beginning with the Class of 2025, resulting in a significant drop in the acceptance rate, down to 7.8% for the Class of 2025, compared to 9.1% the previous year.
- ED Advantage: According to the most recent Common Data Set for Swarthmore, applying to ED to this leading liberal arts college can offer a statistical advantage for gaining admission, with ED acceptance rates ranging between 16–18% over the past two admissions cycles.
- Fluctuations Influenced by External Factors: Acceptance rates and application totals can vary due to external influences such as policy changes, global events (e.g., COVID-19), or targeted recruitment efforts.
- Limited space for additional admits: Noteworthy for Swarthmore is an effort announced two years ago to create space for more transfer students, reducing the typical number of first-year admits from roughly 1,020 down to about 970 for the Class of 2027 and onward. However, the Common Data Set for last year's admission cycle reveals that Swarthmore admitted zero transfer students to the Class of 2028 — citing lack of space — despite receiving more than 350 transfer applications that year and after admitting 40 transfer students the prior year (Class of 2027).
Among a handful of renowned liberal arts colleges in the US, Swarthmore remains a highly appealing choice for many students. Prospective applicants should seek to demonstrate exceptional achievement in academics and extracurriculars while pursuing opportunities for community service and leadership, all while showcasing genuine interest for attending Swarthmore.
Swarthmore’s Early Decision Acceptance Results
Although Swarthmore hasn't reported ED acceptance results for the Class of 2029, we can make thoughtful estimates based on recent data and trends.
Over the past three years Swarthmore's ED acceptance rate has been as high as 20%, for the Class of 2026, but dropped to 16% for the Class of 2027, before increasing again to 18% during last year's admissions cycle.
Early Decision Acceptance Rate Data for Swarthmore
| * Estimated pending release of data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | |
| Total ED Applications | 1,280* | 1,221 | 1,358 | 1,158 |
| Number Accepted | 224* | 220 | 216 | 222 |
| % of Students Admitted Under ED | 23%* | 22.5% | 21.7% | 21.8% |
| ED Acceptance Rate | 17.5%* | 18% | 16% | 19% |
Swarthmore's ED acceptance rates for the past three years reveal relative consistency overall. Though fluctuating from year to year, the ED acceptance rate consistently ranges between 17–19% and represents a rate that is statistically well above the school's overall acceptance rate, offering an edge for applicants willing to accept the restrictive nature of the policy.
The data also show that applicants admitted in the early round make up slightly more than one-fifth of the first-year students admitted each year.
- Higher Acceptance Rates: Early-round applicants typically enjoy higher acceptance rates compared to Regular Decision applicants.
- Demonstrated Interest: Applying early shows Swarthmore your strong interest in joining their academic community.
Swarthmore's Regular Decision Acceptance Results
Regular Decision Acceptance Rate Data for Swarthmore
| * Estimated pending release of data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | |
| Total RD Applications | 11,715* | 11,779 | 12,929 | 13,549 |
| Number Accepted | 741* | 755 | 753 | 799 |
| RD Acceptance Rate | 6.3%* | 6.4% | 5.8% | 5.9% |
The RD acceptance rate continues to be exceptionally competitive year after year at Swarthmore, averaging 6.1% over the past four years, based on recent-year data and our estimates for this year.
Historical Trends
Historical Acceptance Rates at Swarthmore
| * Estimated pending release of data | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class Year | Total Applications | Total Accepted | Overall Rate | RD Rate | ED Rate |
| 2029 | 12,995 | 965 | 7.4% | 6.3%* | 17.5%* |
| 2028 | 13,065 | 975 | 7.5% | 6.4% | 18% |
| 2027 | 14,287 | 969 | 6.7% | 5.8% | 16% |
| 2026 | 14,700 | 1,021 | 8% | 5.9% | 19% |
| 2025 | 13,012 | 1,013 | 7.8% | 6.47% | 23.8% |
These historical data demonstrate Swarthmore's consistently competitive admissions landscape.
However, while overall acceptance rates have remained at or below 8% year over year for the past five admissions cycles, applying ED to Swarthmore can give applicants a very significant statistical advantage. The average ED rate over the past four years is equivalent to 19.2%.
- Academic Excellence: Maintain top grades and a high GPA to improve your chances of being a top applicant to Swarthmore.
- Strong Essays: Present well-crafted essays to showcase your unique voice and story.
- Leadership and Extracurriculars: Demonstrate meaningful engagement outside the classroom.
- Test Scores: If submitting, aim for high SAT or ACT scores within or above Swarthmore's reported range.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations to the students admitted to Swarthmore's Class of 2029 — your achievement reflects remarkable dedication and excellence.
For students aspiring to get into Swarthmore, strategic preparation guided by a personally-tailored roadmap is essential.
Crimson Education specializes in helping ambitious students navigate this challenging process, offering them informed guidance so they can build compelling applications that reflect their authentic strengths and passions.
If you're a student or parent interested in Swarthmore or other top liberal arts colleges, speak with a Crimson Education admissions advisor today to start charting your path to success.