Swarthmore

Swarthmore SAT and ACT Requirements

Swarthmore is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1490 to 1560 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Test-Optional

SAT middle 50%

1490–1560

ACT middle 50%

33–35

Acceptance rate

7.5%

Swarthmore SAT scores by section

Section	25th percentile	75th percentile
Reading and Writing	740	770
Math	750	790
Total	1490	1560
ACT Composite	33	35

The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.

Where your score puts you

Below 1490: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
1490 to 1560: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
Above 1560: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.

Other colleges where a 1490 is in range Other colleges where a 1560 is in range Convert an ACT score

Keep these numbers

Email me Swarthmore's score ranges

The ranges on this page, plus a link to compare them with every other college we track.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Swarthmore require the SAT or ACT?

Swarthmore is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Swarthmore's official application-materials-deadlines page confirms test scores are optional and non-submission is not penalized in the admissions process for 2026-27. No future required-testing change found.

What SAT score do you need for Swarthmore?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1490, half scored between 1490 and 1560, and a quarter scored above 1560. A score at or above 1560 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1490 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for Swarthmore?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 33 to 35 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1460 to 1540.

Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: Swarthmore admissions, verified for 2026-27.