Haverford College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Haverford, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
  • Early Decision
  • Early Decision II
6,730
Applicants
896
Admitted13%
397
Enrolled
44%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Highly selective13% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1490
Mid 50: 1460–1530
In-state tuition
$74,930
per year, before aid (CDS 2025-2026)
Net price (avg)
$25,314
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #26 (tie) in National Liberal Arts CollegesU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Haverford College (see the source), read on 2026-09-16.

Is Haverford College a reach, target or safety for your student?

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Quick answer

Haverford College is a private nonprofit university in Haverford, Pennsylvania that admits about 13% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $25,314 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Biology, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Political Science and Government, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 89% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Haverford College is a private institution located in Haverford, Pennsylvania and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Haverford College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 13%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1490 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,314 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Haverford College?

Most admitted students at Haverford College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Haverford College.

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What does Haverford College weight in admissions?

Haverford College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Very Important

6
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Character/personal qualities

Important

4
  • Class rank
  • Talent/ability
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience

Considered

6
  • Standardized test scores
  • Interview
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • Level of applicant's interest

Not Considered

2
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

SAT and ACT scores Haverford College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 740–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 735. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1460
50th percentile1490
75th percentile1530
% submitting SAT40%
ACT Composite
25th percentile33
50th percentile34
75th percentile35
% submitting ACT14%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Test-optional; applicants choose in the Haverford portal which scores, if any, to have considered.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Haverford College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class93%
Top 25% of class100%
Top 50% of class100%
% submitting class rank19%

How much does Haverford College actually cost?

Published tuition is $70,688 for in-state students and $70,688 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,548 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $25,314 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$74,930
Room and board$20,554
Average net price (after aid)$25,314
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need100%
Average need-based grant$70,214
Average merit award, no financial need0 first-year students received one$0
Graduates who borrowed16%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$13,015
Financial aid formsFAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$65 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Haverford College

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/10
Notification date1-Apr
Reply deadline1-May
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 15
Offers Early Decision IIYes
ED II deadlineJanuary 5
ED acceptance rate (all rounds)33%

Will my child graduate from Haverford College?

These predict outcomes at Haverford College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
93.02%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
89%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Haverford College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Haverford College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Biology, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Haverford College confers roughly 235 bachelor's degrees a year. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Biology, General46n/a
Research and Experimental Psychology38n/a
Political Science and Government35n/a
Computer and Information Sciences, General32n/a
Mathematics24n/a
Economics23n/a
English Language and Literature, General19n/a
Chemistry18n/a
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Haverford College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Haverford College disclosed 7 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 6 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
7
4.9 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
1
0.70 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
6
4.20 per 1,000
Burglary
0
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 1,430 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Haverford College?

About 96% of undergraduates at Haverford College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
96%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
75%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Haverford College.

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Next steps for Haverford College

Common questions parents ask about Haverford College

What GPA do I need for Haverford College?

Most admitted students at Haverford College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.

What SAT or ACT score does Haverford College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 740–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 735. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35.

How much does Haverford College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Haverford College after grants and scholarships is $25,314 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $70,688. Budget against the net figure.

Is Haverford College realistic for my child?

Haverford College admits 13% of applicants, so 740–780 SAT Math is target range and below 740 is a reach. Then check the $25,314 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Haverford College?

Haverford College accepts about 13% of applicants out of roughly 6,730 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.

Is Haverford College test-optional?

Yes. Haverford College is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at Haverford College?

About 89% of students at Haverford College graduate within six years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Haverford College?

Haverford College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 33%, compared with its overall rate of 13%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.

What does Haverford College look for in applicants?

Haverford College rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Haverford College a public or private school, and where is it located?

Haverford College is a private nonprofit institution located in Haverford, Pennsylvania.

What are the most popular majors at Haverford College?

The largest undergraduate majors at Haverford College by annual graduates are Biology, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Political Science and Government. The school awards about 235 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Haverford College safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Haverford College reported 7 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at Haverford College?

At Haverford College, 96% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Haverford College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers