Reed College
#1 Best Biology Colleges in Oregon- Graduation Rate
- 74% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $62,927 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $33,013 F
- 93% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 25% A
- Admits roughly 25% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Biology Colleges in Oregon.
Every $1 spent returns $20.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,578,098.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 54% more than the national college median.
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Inventor rate in the top 25% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.0%
- Top 25%
- Patents
- 13
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 242
- Downstream influence
Why Reed College Matters
Reed College is a private liberal arts college in Portland, OR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
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
- 1,320
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, English & Literature, Psychology
Why students choose Reed 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
Selective — admits about 25% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1290–1520. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $33,013 a year after grants and scholarships — 93% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $62,927 ten years after enrolling — 54% above the typical college, against $21,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 68% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.75 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just 1,320 students, Reed College in Portland, Oregon, offers an intimate learning environment that suits those who thrive in small, discussion-based classes. Students here are drawn to programs like Social Sciences, Biology, English, Psychology, and Visual & Performing Arts. The school’s selective acceptance rate of 25% means it attracts motivated individuals who value a rigorous academic experience and a tight-knit community.
After graduation, Reed alumni see an impressive average earning of $62,927 within ten years. This reflects the quality of education and the dedication of graduates who often move into meaningful careers. While 15% of students receive Pell Grants, which indicates some level of financial support, the potential for upward mobility remains a crucial consideration for students evaluating their education investment.
When it comes to financials, the net price after aid stands at $33,013, with a median debt of $21,500. This balance suggests that while the school is a significant investment, many students find ways to manage their financial responsibilities effectively. Reed tends to attract those who are self-motivated and passionate about their studies, contributing to a vibrant academic environment where students can explore their interests deeply.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Reed 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 Reed College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Portland, Oregon, Reed College sets a competitive bar: about 25% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,437. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- SAT Average
- 1437
- SAT Range
- 1290–1520
- ACT Range
- 30–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 95%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,578
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- Applicants
- 9,023
- Admitted
- 2,779
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Reed 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. 13% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 13%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 52%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 21%
- of enrolled freshmen
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 Reed College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Reed College is $69,350, 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 $33,013. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,674 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $69,350
- Out-of-State
- $69,350
- Avg Net Price
- $33,013
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 40%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,674
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,514
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,513
- Family Income $110K+
- $46,711
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 Reed 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 Reed College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Reed College earn a median of $62,927, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,607
- 8 Years
- $46,514
- 10 Years
- $62,927
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.34x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (214)
- 62%
- 100% (214)
- 62%
- 100% (214)
- 62%
- 100% (214)
- 62%
How Reed 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 Reed College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Reed College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $33,013/year ($132,052 total). Graduates earn $62,927 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,710,150 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,578,098 (20.5× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 74% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $132,052
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,710,150
- Net Return
- $2,578,098
- ROI Multiple
- 20.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $33,013
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
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 Reed College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Reed College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.14%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 27.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $121,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.14%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 27.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $165,619
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Reed College produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 25% nationally), with 13 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.96%
- Top 25% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 13
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 242
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $8,609,392
- Investment Income
- $-36,515,835
Top Programs
The fields Reed 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.
- Biology & Biomedical 17% $31,771 early-career
- Social Sciences 16% $61,913 early-career
- English & Literature 11% $22,304 early-career
- Psychology 9% $20,050 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $33,980 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 7%
- Physical Sciences 6%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
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 Reed 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 Reed College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Portland, Oregon, Reed College sets a competitive bar: about 25% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,437. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Reed College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Reed College is $69,350, 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 $33,013. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,674 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
Is Reed College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Reed College earn a median of $62,927, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Reed College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Reed College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.14%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 27.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $121,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Reed 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 Reed College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.75, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Reed College offer Early Decision?
No. Reed College does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Reed College really test-optional?
Reed College reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 73% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2024-25 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Reed College?
About 13% of admitted students choose to enroll at Reed College — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Reed College.
- Pitzer CollegeClaremont, CA · Close peer83% grad $69,512 earn 25% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO · Close peer87% grad $65,222 earn 18% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, WA · Close peer81% grad $67,589 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN · Close peer89% grad $63,878 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, IL · Close peer78% grad $70,871 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr, PA · Close peer84% grad $75,217 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Reed 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 Reed College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.75, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note