Haverford College
#3 Best Biology Colleges in Pennsylvania- Graduation Rate
- 90% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $79,966 A
- Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $25,314 D
- 48% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 12% A+
- Rejects about 88 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 28.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.8 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Biology Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $28.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,813,551.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 96% more than the national college median.
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A 90% graduation rate — 57% above the national average.
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Inventor rate in the top 22% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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Admits just 12% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.1%
- Top 22%
- Patents
- 12
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 26
- Downstream influence
Why Haverford College Matters
Haverford College is a private liberal arts college in Haverford, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,430
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Haverford College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 12% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1460–1550. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,314 a year after grants and scholarships — 48% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $79,966 ten years after enrolling — 96% above the typical college, against $13,621 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 35% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Haverford College is a tight-knit community that attracts students who are serious about their education and want to engage deeply with their studies. With an acceptance rate of just 12%, this college is selective, making it a fit for those who are academically motivated and ready to dive into programs like Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Biology, Psychology, and Computer Science. The graduation rate is impressive at 90%, which indicates that students here not only enroll but also succeed in completing their degrees.
Looking ahead, graduates from Haverford can expect solid earning potential, with a median income of around $79,966 ten years after graduation. This is significant when considering the college experience as an investment in the future. Affordability plays a crucial role too, especially since the net price after aid is $25,314, and the median debt for graduates stands at $13,621. This combination suggests that students can manage their financial commitments without being overwhelmingly burdened post-graduation.
When it comes to thriving at Haverford, students who are self-motivated and eager to engage in a collaborative learning environment often find their place. The relatively low Pell Grant rate of 15% suggests that while there is diversity in financial backgrounds, a significant portion of students come from families that can afford to contribute to their education. Those who embrace the academic rigor and community spirit here are likely to find not just success in their studies, but also a supportive network that lasts beyond their time at Haverford.
Rankings
- #3 Best Biology Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #4 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #4 Best Bachelor's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #4 Best Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #4 Best Computer Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #4 Best Data Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #5 Best Psychology Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #6 Best Colleges for Physical Sciences
Can I Get In?
How selective Haverford College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Haverford College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Haverford, Pennsylvania, Haverford College sets a competitive bar: about 12% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,513. The graduation rate is roughly 90%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Retention Rate
- 94%
- SAT Average
- 1513
- ACT Midpoint
- 34
- SAT Range
- 1460–1550
- ACT Range
- 33–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 86%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,785
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 16%
- Applicants
- 5,657
- Admitted
- 804
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Haverford College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 44% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 44%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 40%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 14%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 32.6%
- vs 13.3% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 702 Early Decision applicants, 229 were admitted — a 32.6% admit rate, roughly 2.5× the 13.3% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 58% of the entering class (229 of 397 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 54% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Haverford College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Haverford College is $70,688, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,314. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,531 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,621 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $70,688
- Out-of-State
- $70,688
- Avg Net Price
- $25,314
- Median Debt
- $13,621
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,531
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,388
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,007
- Family Income $110K+
- $45,991
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Haverford College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Haverford College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Haverford College earn a median of $79,966, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $53,353
- 8 Years
- $67,379
- 10 Years
- $79,966
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (287)
- 85%
- 100% (287)
- 85%
- 100% (287)
- 85%
- 100% (287)
- 85%
How Haverford Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Haverford College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Haverford College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,314/year ($101,256 total). Graduates earn $79,966 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,914,807 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,813,551 (28.8× your investment). The median debt is $13,621, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 90% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $101,256
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,914,807
- Net Return
- $2,813,551
- ROI Multiple
- 28.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $25,314
- Median Debt
- $13,621
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 90%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Haverford College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Haverford College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.80%, well above the typical college. About 4.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 39.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $174,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.80%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 39.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $236,677
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Haverford College produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 22% nationally), with 12 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.12%
- Top 22% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 12
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 26
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,387,564
- Investment Income
- $-9,472,868
Top Programs
The fields Haverford College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 28% $72,332 early-career
- Physical Sciences 16%
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $42,074 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 10%
- English & Literature 6%
- Mathematics & Statistics 6%
- Psychology 5% $45,094 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Haverford College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Haverford College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Haverford, Pennsylvania, Haverford College sets a competitive bar: about 12% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,513. The graduation rate is roughly 90%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Haverford College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Haverford College is $70,688, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,314. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,531 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,621 in federal student loans.
Is Haverford College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Haverford College earn a median of $79,966, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Haverford College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Haverford College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.80%, well above the typical college. About 4.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 39.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $174,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Haverford College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Haverford College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Haverford College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Haverford College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 33%, about 2.5 times the overall 13% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 58% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Haverford College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Haverford College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 54% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Haverford College (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Haverford College?
About 44% of admitted students choose to enroll at Haverford College — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare Haverford College
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Haverford College.
- Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA · Close peer93% grad $80,257 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA · Close peer93% grad $77,779 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · Close peer94% grad $77,644 earn 9% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY · Close peer91% grad $78,411 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Close peer90% grad $75,525 earn 20% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA · Close peer91% grad $84,803 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Haverford College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Haverford College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note