Resident Assistants

Spring flowers in front of Wharton Hall

Resident Assistants (RA) serve a key role at Swarthmore. They help build student residential culture, act as confidants and supporters, and partner with the administration as needed.

There are important financial considerations related to the job of being a Resident Assistant. More information about the program and selection can be found on the Office of Student Engagement Website. If you plan to work as a Resident Assistant, here are some key financial pieces of information to understand.  

Resident Assistant Compensation

  • Remuneration for the RA position equates to the total cost of room at Swarthmore College.  For the 2021-2022 year, this amount was $8,796. RAs receive the entire RA stipend through the student payroll system, and will be paid one-half of the total remuneration each semester.

  • Please note that the compensation received for work as a Resident Assistant is considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  RAs will need to inquire with Human Resources with any questions regarding how their compensation may be taxed.

  • This compensation includes Spring Training, Fall Training, Orientation Week, Winter Break Training and on-going in-service opportunities.  The stipend will be disbursed once in September and once in January, evenly split between the two semesters.