Swarthmore College can meet 100% of its institutionally determined financial need for admitted international first-year students, without loans. Aid can reach the full annual cost of tuition and also cover fees, housing, food, academic supplies, some personal expenses and an annual US$800 book allowance. International admission is need-aware, so applicants needing aid must request it when applying.
What Swarthmore financial aid covers
- 100% of Swarthmore-calculated financial need for admitted aid recipients
- Up to full annual tuition
- Mandatory fees, housing and food
- Academic supplies and some personal expenses
- US$800 annual book allowance
- No loans in international financial-aid packages
Swarthmore reports that the average award for international students in the Class of 2030 exceeds US$93,000. That figure is an average, not a guaranteed award: each package depends on the college’s assessment of family finances.
Who can apply?
First-year applicants from outside the United States may request institutional financial aid. Swarthmore’s international admission process is generally need-aware, meaning the amount of aid requested may be considered in admission. Applicants must indicate on the admission application that they intend to seek aid; students admitted without requesting aid cannot normally apply for it later.
Application requirements
- Common Application, Coalition Application via Scoir, or QuestBridge application
- Two Swarthmore short-answer responses
- US$60 application fee or approved fee waiver
- School Report and counselor recommendation
- Official secondary-school transcript, with an official English translation where needed
- Midyear grades when available
- Two academic teacher recommendations
- National or school-leaving examination results where applicable
Applicants educated outside the United States must also submit at least one approved communication option: the Swarthmore Video Response, an English-proficiency result such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test, or an InitialView/Vericant interview. SAT and ACT scores are optional and applicants are not penalized for withholding them.
Financial-aid documents
State your intention to apply for aid on the admission application. If admitted, Swarthmore instructs international applicants to submit its financial-aid application within seven days and upload the requested supporting financial documents through the applicant portal. All admitted international applicants receive a CSS Profile fee waiver.
Deadlines for 2027 entry
| Plan | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Early Decision | 15 November 2026 |
| Winter Early Decision | 4 January 2027 |
| Regular Decision | 4 January 2027 |
Swarthmore’s official page does not state a universal submission time or time zone. Submit early and follow any time shown in your application portal. Early Decision applicants must also provide the Early Decision agreement and first-quarter or first-trimester grades.
How to apply
- Choose the Common Application, Coalition Application via Scoir, or QuestBridge.
- Select your admission plan and complete Swarthmore’s two short answers.
- Indicate that you are applying for financial aid.
- Arrange your school documents and recommendations.
- Complete one approved English-communication option if educated outside the United States.
- Submit by the appropriate admission deadline.
- If admitted, complete the international financial-aid application and supporting documents within seven days.
Apply Now on Swarthmore’s Official Site
Frequently asked questions
Is Swarthmore fully funded for international students?
Swarthmore does not award every international applicant a full scholarship. For admitted students who requested aid, it meets 100% of the financial need it calculates, and support can reach the full cost described above.
Is international admission need-blind?
No. International admission is generally need-aware, so requesting aid may affect the admission decision. Swarthmore lists limited exceptions on its official international-student page.
Are loans included?
No. Swarthmore says its international financial-aid awards do not include loans.
Is an English test compulsory?
Not necessarily. Applicants educated outside the United States must provide one approved option: a Swarthmore Video Response, an accepted English-proficiency result, or an InitialView/Vericant interview.
Do I need SAT or ACT scores?
No. The 2026–27 application requirements state that SAT/ACT submission is optional.
Official sources
Related opportunities
- Williams College Financial Aid 2027
- Wellesley College Financial Aid 2027
- Amherst College Financial Aid 2027
