Admit rate has ranged 13%–18% over the last 5 years. 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.
Haverford College is a fiercely intellectual, tight-knit liberal arts enclave where an honor code governs everything from exams to dorm life. With an acceptance rate hovering around 13%, it attracts brainy, collaborative students who thrive in its demanding interdisciplinary curriculum and residential community. The college's Quaker roots manifest in a culture of mutual trust, undergraduate research opportunities, and an unusually high 45% yield rate.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,430
In-state tuition
$70,688
Out-of-state tuition
$70,688
Enrollment
1,430 undergraduates
Honor Code
Student-governed since 1897
Campus Setting
Suburban (200-acre arboretum)
Acceptance Rate
12.85% (3-yr avg)
Student-Faculty Ratio
9:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
91%
Average Financial Aid Package
$68,335
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$79,966
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.2×
Median debt at graduation
$13,621
Graduation rate
90%
First-year retention
94%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
91%
Pell (lower-income) share
51%
First-generation share
16%
Endowment / student
$491,080
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
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.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
6
Per 1,000 students
4.20
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.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
85°F
Winter low
30°F
Annual rain
51.3"
Annual snow
14.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
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.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
254
Scholarly works
7,638
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.
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Haverford College?
Haverford College's acceptance rate is approximately 12% (Haverford, PA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Haverford College?
Admitted students at Haverford College typically score 1460–1550 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Haverford College cost?
At Haverford College, the average net price (after aid) is about $25,314 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Haverford College?
Haverford College enrolls approximately 1,430 undergraduate students.
Where is Haverford College located?
Haverford College is located in Haverford, PA.
Admissions
Haverford's admissions process is highly selective, with an average Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. of 12.85% over the past three years ([5]). For the Class of 2029, the admit rate was 13.3% from a pool where enrolled students had mid-50% SAT scores of 720-780 EBRW and 730-790 Math, or ACT scores of 33-35 ([7]). Notably, only 40% of applicants submit SAT scores and 14% submit ACT scores ([4]), reflecting the college's Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policy. The YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is an impressive 45% ([7], [8]), suggesting strong applicant commitment. Geographic diversity is robust, with 47.5% of enrolling students coming from outside the Mid-Atlantic region ([7]).
Haverford offers across three academic divisions, with particularly strong reputations in ([13], [17]). All students complete divisional requirements ensuring exposure to humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences ([14]). The curriculum emphasizes —over half of students complete thesis projects—and close faculty mentorship, with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio ([17], [18]). Popular majors include:
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.
1.8%
Bottom → top quintile
39%
From bottom quintile
5%
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.
32 majors
biology, physics, and mathematics
undergraduate research
Computer Science (6% of degrees)
Foreign Languages (4%)
History (4%)
English (4%) ([15])
The academic culture is rigorous but collaborative, governed by an honor code that allows self-scheduled exams and fosters intellectual trust ([22]). Over 40% of students pursue double majors or minors, often combining disciplines like neuroscience with philosophy ([13], [16]).
Nearly all of Haverford's 1,430 undergraduates live on campus ([24]), choosing from traditional dorms, theme houses (like the Arts House or International House), or apartments ([19]). The suburban 200-acre arboretum campus features two libraries, expansive green spaces, and a student-run coffee shop ([21], [23]).
Social life revolves around:
Honor Code traditions like Plenary (a campus-wide decision-making assembly)
Bi-Co events with nearby Bryn Mawr College
Low-key parties in dorm lounges ([20], [22])
Students describe the culture as "friendly, down-to-earth, and intellectual" ([20]), with a lack of Greek life fostering inclusive socializing. The honor code extends beyond academics—students report feeling safe leaving laptops unattended in the dining hall ([22]).
Haverford boasts a 91% six-year graduation rate ([27]), among the highest in the Centennial Conference ([25]). Alumni earnings show strong trajectories:
$35,752 median income 1 year post-graduation
$53,353 at 6 years
$79,966 at 10 years ([28])
Notably, 44% of graduates pursue advanced degrees within 10 years ([30]). The college's emphasis on undergraduate research and writing-intensive coursework prepares many for top PhD programs, while its proximity to Philadelphia (a 20-minute train ride) facilitates internships in finance, tech, and nonprofits ([22], [29]).
Haverford meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans for all admitted students ([33], [36]). Key figures:
51% of students receive financial aid
44% receive Haverford grants (average $68,335)
Average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid: $22,828 ([32], [35])
The college uses a "25% rule" for student savings contributions—expecting families to allocate only a quarter of a student's personal savings toward costs ([36]). The aid package typically includes grants, work-study, and no loans, with 98% of demonstrated need met on average ([33]).
1. The Honor Code—a student-written compact governing academic and social life since 1897, enabling take-home exams and fostering remarkable trust ([22], [24]). 2. Bi-College Consortium—cross-registration with Bryn Mawr (and nearby Swarthmore) expands course options while maintaining a small-college feel ([19]). 3. Quaker-inspired governance—students have real power, voting on policies at annual Plenary meetings ([22]). 4. The Customs Program—a uniquely Haverford first-year experience pairing 8-10 students with upperclass mentors for academic and social integration ([19]).
It's a place where students debate Kant over breakfast, plant trees during May Day celebrations, and leave their doors unlocked—a rare blend of intellectual intensity and communal warmth ([20], [22]).
Haverford College logo · sourceHaverford College - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceVisiting | Office of Admission | Haverford College · sourceHaverford College, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia · source
