Haverford College

Private · Highly Selective · PA

Photo: roger4336 (CC BY-SA 2.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationPA · Northeast

SettingSuburban

Undergrads1,430

Student:faculty8:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate76.2%

6-yr grad rate89.6%

Drop-out rate6.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$71k

Out-of-state tuition$71k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity50.8%

Gender diversity56.9%

International10.9%

Identity—

Overview

Haverford is a small liberal arts college on Philadelphia's Main Line, founded in 1833 by Quakers and still shaped by that heritage even though the student body today is religiously diverse. The student-run Honor Code governs far more than testing: it extends into a broader ethic of trust, self-governance, and consensus-based decision-making that runs through the entire community. The scale is intimate -- one of the smallest colleges in its peer group -- and the culture is understated and cooperative rather than competitive.

Academics

Sciences and humanities are both genuinely strong, supported by close faculty mentorship and real opportunities for independent research even at the undergraduate level, often through the college's integrated natural sciences center. Many students pursue a senior thesis or capstone project. Cross-registration with Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and the University of Pennsylvania substantially widens course options -- a shuttle bus runs constantly between Haverford and Bryn Mawr, and shared dining and housing arrangements make the two campuses feel almost like one community -- without giving up Haverford's small-college feel.

Campus & student life

The wooded, arboretum-certified campus includes a duck pond and nature trail that are genuine fixtures of student life, not just scenery. There is no Greek life; instead, student culture leans quiet, intellectual, and community-minded, consistent with the Quaker heritage. Major community decisions, including revisions to the Honor Code itself, are worked out at Plenary, a student-body-wide meeting and vote held each year -- a direct exercise in the same Quaker consensus tradition the college was founded on. Orientation and close-knit dorm life reinforce that same trust-based culture from day one.

Getting in

Admissions is holistic and reads for fit with the Honor Code's ethic of trust and self-governance as much as for strong academics. Essays and demonstrated intellectual curiosity carry real weight given the small, close-knit community students are joining, and the college looks for applicants comfortable with a culture built on mutual accountability rather than proctors and rules.

After graduation

Graduates go on heavily to graduate and professional school, particularly in the sciences, medicine, and academia, aided by strong faculty recommendations built on genuine mentorship. The alumni network is loyal and tight-knit, shaped by the shared Honor Code experience, and stays active in supporting current students through internships and advice.

Worth knowing

The Honor Code is not symbolic: students take unproctored exams, are trusted with unlocked common spaces, and are expected to self-report violations. That level of trust is a real cultural adjustment worth understanding before enrolling, and it shapes social life far beyond the classroom.

haverford.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate12.4%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1460–1550 · ACT 33–35

Test policyoptional

Rec letters—

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early decisionNov 15

Regular decisionJan 10

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App, QuestBridge, or Coalition (Scoir).

Early decision IIJan 5

Early Decision I and II are binding commitments to enroll if admitted; Regular Decision carries no early commitment.

Interviews: Interviews are evaluative and recommended before applying; they are generally available from the spring of junior year through early January of senior year, and can be conducted via Zoom, on campus, or in various cities.

Supplemental essays (2)

Tell us about a topic or issue that sparks your curiosity and gets you intellectually excited. How do you hope to engage with this topic or issue at Haverford?
200 words · Required · 150-200 words
We have highlighted for you some of the values that shape the Haverford community. What are some of the values you seek in your next community? How do Haverford's values, as demonstrated through our Honor Code, resonate with you?
200 words · Required · 150-200 words; you might draw on communities you have been part of, shaped, or changed

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗