Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

DENIED

SETTING

Suburban Philadelphia, integrated arboretum campus

SIZE

Small (~1,600 students)

ACADEMIC RIGOR

Very High

Environmental Programs

Environmental Studies

B.A. (Major)

  • Interdisciplinary program combining natural sciences, engineering, humanities, and social sciences
  • Introduction to Environmental Engineering course available
  • Hands-on design and research opportunities
  • Study abroad and internship programs

Campus & Nature

One of America's most beautiful campuses with integrated arboretum

  • 300-acre Scott Arboretum woven throughout campus
  • Crum Woods - 220 acres of native forest
  • Walking trails throughout campus
  • Suburban access to Philadelphia

Academic Rigor

Extremely selective liberal arts college known for academic intensity

  • One of the most academically rigorous liberal arts colleges
  • Honors program available
  • Small seminar-style classes
  • Exceptional faculty-student collaboration

Liberal Arts Access

  • Premier liberal arts with exceptional breadth across all disciplines
  • Top-ranked economics, political science, history, philosophy
  • Honors seminars provide deep liberal arts exploration
  • World-class access to humanities and social sciences

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Exceptional academic rigor and reputation
  • Stunning arboretum campus
  • Environmental engineering courses available
  • Excellent law school preparation
  • Close to Philadelphia

Cons

  • No standalone engineering major
  • Very intense academic environment
  • Very small school size
  • Can feel isolated despite proximity to Philly

Student Voices

Real perspectives from students and alumni on third-party review sites

What Students Love

"Swarthmore professors are incredibly dedicated and accessible. They treat you as intellectual equals and push you to think critically about everything."

— Junior, 2 months ago

What Students Love

"The Honors Program seminars are amazing - small discussion-based classes where you really dig deep into material with brilliant peers and professors who know you by name."

— Senior, 4 months ago

Common Complaint

"The workload is absolutely brutal. Swarthmore students joke about 'anywhere else would have been easier' but it's genuinely exhausting and stressful."

— Sophomore, 6 months ago