Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Swarthmore's yield is 5 pts higher than Amherst's
Yield rate - 2
Swarthmore admits 7.5% vs. 9.0% at Amherst
Acceptance rate - 3
Amherst's SAT midpoint is 10 points higher than Swarthmore's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- AmherstUltra selective
- SwarthmoreHighly selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1400–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- AmherstTest-optional
- SwarthmoreTest-optional
How they read a record
Amherst
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
Swarthmore
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Amherst | Swarthmore |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Considered | Considered |
| Recommendations | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Legacy status | Not considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Considered |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why