Haverford College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Haverford, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
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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.
What does Haverford College weight in admissions?
Haverford College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Class rank
- • Talent/ability
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
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.
| 25th percentile | 1460 |
| 50th percentile | 1490 |
| 75th percentile | 1530 |
| % submitting SAT | 40% |
| 25th percentile | 33 |
| 50th percentile | 34 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 14% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
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 class | 93% |
| Top 25% of class | 100% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 19% |
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 — 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 |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Haverford College
| Regular deadline | 1/10 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 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
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
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 46 | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 38 | — |
| Political Science and Government | 35 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 32 | — |
| Mathematics | 24 | — |
| Economics | 23 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 19 | — |
| Chemistry | 18 | — |
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
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.
Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about
- Lafayette College31% acceptance
- York College of Pennsylvania74% acceptance
- Westminster College93% acceptance
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania78% acceptance
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania87% acceptance
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania86% acceptance
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus91% acceptance
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania71% acceptance
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, 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