Swarthmore College

What it reported doing in 2024

Swarthmore is a co-educational college of liberal arts and engineering dedicated to intellectual exploration, access, and educating for the common good. The average enrollment for fiscal year 2024-25 was 1,702. There were 191 students studying abroad. Of the total student population, 1,459 come from across the united states while 243 come from other nations. Swarthmore's commitment to financial aid and access is at the core of our educational mission. The college strives to make it possible for all admitted students to attend swarthmore, regardless of their ability to pay, and meets 100 percent of determined need for all admitted students. Nearly 54 percent of students received need-based swarthmore scholarship aid from an overall financial aid expenditures of $60 million. Swarthmore's aid awards consist of grants (which do not need to be repaid) and the expectation that students will work in a part-time campus-based job. The college's financial aid awards are loan-free. Swarthmore's 425-acre arboretum campus includes the crum woods, a naturally wooded area comprising nearly three-fifths of the college's land. In 2015, the college launched its environmental sustainability framework, a set of guidelines for capital projects and facilities operations that includes sustainable building guidelines and a project checklist. The following year, the college instituted a carbon charge that provides funding for campus initiatives and projects that increase energy conservation and efficiency and promote renewable energy. Swarthmore was honored to receive a 2017 sustainable campus excellence award in the innovative collaboration category from the international sustainable campus network for our carbon charge program. Swarthmore college is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all qualified persons, without discrimination against any person by reason of sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, handicap, or sexual orientation. This policy is consistent with relevant governmental statues and regulations, including those pursuant to title ix of the federal education amendments of 1972 and section 504 of the federal rehabilitation act of 1973.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79%; rating input score 79
• Program expense ratio: 78.2%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.22 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 13.8%; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 11.75; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.1%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.3% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.4% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings