Established in 1864, Swarthmore College is a private, nonprofit institution offering undergraduate courses in engineering and liberal arts. In addition to regional accreditation, Swarthmore has its engineering baccalaureate program accreditation with ABET. The 330-acre campus sits in a suburban area 10 miles southwest of Philadelphia and contains 46 buildings, including residence halls.
All students can be accommodated in college housing, which includes single-sex and co-ed dormitories. In addition, there are substance-free dormitory wings. On-campus housing is required for the freshman year and is available for upper-classmen. 93% of students live on campus. Seniors may keep cars, but it is difficult to get a permit.