
Wenham, MAprivate nonprofitwww.gordon.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 59%–92% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Gordon College is a distinctive Christian liberal arts college in Wenham, Massachusetts, where faith and intellect are woven into every aspect of campus life. It offers a surprisingly robust academic environment with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and faculty from elite institutions, all within a tight-knit, residential community where nearly 90% of students live on campus. While its admissions are accessible, the college fosters a culture of serious academic inquiry and personal formation, aiming to produce graduates who are both professionally capable and deeply grounded.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Gordon College operates with an accessible admissions process, accepting the Common Application and offering a non-binding Early Action plan. The college is not considered highly selective, with an of 69%. Admitted students typically present solid academic credentials, with the middle 50% SAT range for admitted applicants falling between 1130 and 1355. The admissions office considers a student's academic record to be very important, while factors like class rank, recommendations, and standardized test scores are considered important. Notably, demonstrated interest is not considered in the admissions decision. The college does not offer a binding Early Decision option, only Early Action, which allows students to receive an early notification without a commitment to enroll.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
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Academics at Gordon are defined by a commitment to a 'well-rounded education' that encourages interdisciplinary connections, all within a Christian framework. The college boasts a favorable 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which allows professors to invest significantly in students' academic success, faith formation, and career development. The faculty bring experience from prestigious institutions like Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Juilliard, and Oxford. The curriculum is evolving, with the recent rollout of 12 new majors, minors, and concentrations designed to meet contemporary academic interests and career goals. The most popular majors reflect a blend of the sciences, social sciences, and professional studies:
Life at Gordon is intensely residential and community-oriented, with 89% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing. This creates a close-knit campus culture where the Office of Student Life coordinates a wide range of activities, programs, and services to enhance the student experience, including residence life and multicultural events. The college's identity as 'New England's top Christian college' is central to campus life, with faith woven into daily routines and community discussions. The overall vibe is one of a collaborative and inclusive community where students are encouraged to explore their faith alongside their academics.
Gordon College graduates show solid outcomes, with a four-year graduation rate of 69%. The median earnings for former students, ten years after starting their studies, is $52,119. The college's overall graduation rate places it within the top 30% percentile nationally, indicating a strong level of student support and persistence compared to many institutions. The average time to degree is 4.1 years, which is typical for a four-year bachelor's program.
Gordon College is priced as a private institution, but it works to make attendance feasible through substantial financial aid. The average after grants and scholarships is $24,883. A hallmark of the college's aid program is its broad reach: 100% of full-time, first-year undergraduates receive some form of grant or scholarship aid. The college awards over $21 million in financial aid annually. Students must demonstrate financial need to qualify for , and aid packages are renewable annually provided students maintain satisfactory academic progress and continue to demonstrate need. The college's financial aid policies are not described in the provided sources as meeting full demonstrated need without loans (a 'no-loan' policy).
Gordon College carves out a unique niche by unapologetically merging rigorous liberal arts education with evangelical Christian commitment, a combination that defines its entire ecosystem. It's not just a college with a chapel; faith is integrated into the classroom, dorm life, and career counseling. This happens within a surprisingly robust academic framework, supported by a low student-to-faculty ratio and professors recruited from top-tier universities. The result is a purposeful, close-knit community—almost 90% live on campus—where students are known personally and challenged to connect their learning to a larger worldview. For students seeking an education where intellectual exploration and spiritual formation are pursued with equal seriousness, Gordon offers a coherent and immersive experience that few other colleges can match.