Login Register

Swarthmore College
- Campus Housing

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Yes, let this school know
Maybe, bookmark for later
No, get better matches
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

Jump to a section:

Grade
Quick Stats
Student Author Overview
Student Reviews
Student Polls
Facts
Listings
Take A SurveyWrite A ReviewUpload A PhotoLink Up A VideoWrite The Guide
Swarthmore College - Campus Housing - Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Campus Housing

A-
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Housing rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available? Yes
Campus Housing Capacity 1,427
Average Housing Costs $6,100
Freshmen Required to Live on Campus? Yes
Undergrads Living On Campus 88%
Freshmen Living On Campus 100%
Number of Dormitories 16
Number of Campus-Owned Apartments 1
Best Freshman Dorms
  • Alice Paul
  • Mertz
  • Willets
Best Upperclassman Dorms
  • Alice Paul
  • PPR
  • Wharton
  • Worth
Best Dorms
  • PPR (Palmer, Pittenger, and Roberts)
  • Wharton
  • Worth
Worst Dorms
  • Mary Lyon
  • Willets
Worst Freshman Dorms Mary Lyon
Worst Upperclassman Dorms
  • Mary Lyon
  • Willets

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

The majority of Swarthmore students live on campus all four years—and for good reason. The dorms are pleasant to look at, and even the least-attractive dorms are lovely when compared to dorms at larger universities. A good number of Swarthmore’s dorms are converted older buildings that were once boarding school housing or private homes. The buildings are beautiful—the ceilings are high, and the windows are wide and elegant. Students are often content with the housing situation simply because their living conditions seem too good to be true, at least on the surface. And Swarthmore has done a good job of fixing up and renovating old dorms, such as Wharton, to keep up with the showering and other habits of the students on campus.

Each dorm here has at least one unique quality. Willets is referred to as the “party dorm.” But, just remember that the word “party” is also unique to Swarthmore (i.e. Let’s play drunken Trivial Pursuit!) when compared to schools like Penn State (i.e. Is she breathing?), so even Willets is adequate for quieter students. However, Swarthmore students now tend to party more like students at your average state school. Mary Lyon (ML) has a, well, unique flavor. The dorm, which is a hike from main campus, tends to attract the nerdiest of nerds—science-fiction freaks, fantasy lovers, and members of SWIL (Swarthmore Warders of Imaginative Literature). So, if none of these things interest you, stay away from ML. Swattie upperclassmen have first pick in the housing lottery and quickly fill Wharton and Worth, which have enormous singles and gorgeous courtyards. However, even first-years have been known to get good rooms in these dorms, especially Wharton.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Swarthmore Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Campus Housing at Swarthmore College

riseyourfire

Economics '13

4.6
A

Community

I enjoy living in close to everyone. Going to a friends dorm never takes beyond 10 minutes walking or hopping on our shuttle that takes us to our farthest dorm - mary lyons, which only is a 3/4 mile walk anyway. If you are social, you know or recognize a good 1/3 of your campus.

Dec 06, 2011

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Housing at Swarthmore College

tomcat

Philosophy '12

2.7
C+

Not That Great.

Sharples Sucks. Living around swatties can suck if you're not there for a really good reason. Some people are there for a good reason and love it. If you're not one of those people, you'll learn to hate those people.

Nov 27, 2011

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Housing at Swarthmore College

nescoba1

Economics '09

3.5
B

Campus Housing

The party dorm is willets. I loved there Sohomore year and it was actually ok. I did not have any major issues. Willets is close to everything on campus. I also lived in Mertz, which is a solid choice, close to athletic complex, which is convenient if you are an athelte. Beware of mice in Wharton Hall.

Mar 16, 2011

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Page 1 of 7
User rating for Swarthmore College - Campus Housing is 3.5 out of 5 based on 19 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Types of Housing Offered
  • Coed dorms
  • Gender-neutral housing
  • Men's dorms
  • Special housing for disabled students
  • Women's dorms
Room Types
  • Doubles (first-years, sophomores)
  • Singles (juniors, seniors)
Bed Types Twin extra-long
What You Get
  • Bed
  • Closet
  • Desk
  • Dresser
  • Internet connection
  • Shelves
  • Telephone
Also Available Coed roommate housing, special needs housing, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College housing exchange.

Cleaning Service

Yes, Environmental Services cleans hall bathrooms, lounges, and hallways every weekday. Private bathrooms are cleaned less often.

Did You Know?
  • First-year students complete a roommate questionnaire about everything from music preference to sleep patterns before coming to Swarthmore. The questionnaire has had remarkable success, and most Swatties get along very well with their first-year roommates.
  • Swarthmore was among the first schools in the country to offer coed rooms to students.
  • First-years and sophomores will most likely end up with doubles, and juniors and seniors will probably live in singles. Most doubles and singles share bathrooms with their hallmates. Some multiple-room suites come equipped with private bathrooms, while others share hall bathrooms.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

Alice Paul
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Shares a courtyard and main lounge with David Kemp residence hall.

Dana
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Closets have built-in dressers, joint lounge with Hollowell, large bay windows, picture rails in rooms.

David Kemp
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Opened in fall 2009, shares courtyard with Alice Paul Hall.

Hallowell
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen, sophomores
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Closets have built-in dressers, joint lounge with Dana, large bay windows, picture rails in rooms.

Kyle House
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: <20
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: No, women only
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: The feeling of living in your own private house with hardwood floors, large lounge, kitchen area, screened-in porch.

Mary Lyon
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal, some private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, suites
Special Features: Huge first floor lounge, common area, private dorm breakfast, van shuttle service (dorm is 15-20 minute walk from center of campus).

Mertz
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, suites
Special Features: Grand staircase, large first-floor lounge, lounge/kitchenette on each floor, walk-in closets.

Parrish
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal, some private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Easy access to academic buildings (in fact, it is one). The first and second floors are used for administrative offices. There are high ceilings and large windows in the third floor rooms, and laundry and bike storage in the basement.

PPR (Palmer, Pittenger, and Roberts)
Floors: Palmer (3), Pittenger (3), Roberts (2)
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal, some private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, suites
Special Features: Palmer has spacious kitchen and lounge that is shared with Pittenger. PPR is serviced by the campus shuttle.

Strath Haven
Floors: 3 floors in a condo complex
Number of Occupants: <20
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Doubles in apartment-style or motel-style rooms
Special Features: Air-conditioning, bathtubs, free laundry, kitchen units, shuttle service to campus.

Wharton
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, two- or three-room quads
Special Features: Courtyard and easy access to academic buildings. Wharton is divided into three sections: two house first-year students and one consists of singles for upperclassmen.

Willets
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Home to a quarter of the incoming freshman class, Willets has an extensive lounge for studying and socializing.

Woolman
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal, suite-style
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, suites
Special Features: Secluded location, lounge area, hardwood floors.

Worth
Floors: Floors:4
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Suite-style
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Classic architecture, common area, courtyard, large kitchen area, private baths.

Campus-Owned ApartmentsWhat's This?

Lodges
Floors: 2
Number of Units: <10
Bathrooms: One per unit
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Five-person apartments with one double, one triple
Special Features: Each lodge has a private kitchen and basement.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Sudarshan Gopaladesikan
Hometown
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Major
Math and Engineering

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

Buy the eBook "Swarthmore College 2012: Off The Record"
AmazonBarnes & NobleGoogleSmashwords
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

Search College Prowler

Company

How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.