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Franklin and Marshall College

Franklin & Marshall College

Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604-3003

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Campus Vibe

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Strong graduate outcomes

Franklin and Marshall College is a private institution in Lancaster with particular strength in biology and business. With an average SAT of 1394, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.9K undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

86% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $76,124 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $39,061.

Established
1787
Motto
Lux et Lex
Mascot
Ben and John
Type
Private liberal arts college
Conference
Centennial Conference
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

51 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Visit

Plan Your Visit

32%Acceptance
1394SAT Avg
1,904Students
9:1Student:Faculty
86%Grad Rate
$76,124Earnings 10yr
$39,061Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Franklin and Marshall College Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate31.8%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1394

Reading & Writing
658730
Math
640730

ACT Score Range

Composite
2932

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

31.8%

Trend

SAT Avg

1394

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$68,380
Room & Board$15,568
Books & Supplies$800
Total Cost of Attendance$83,184
Average Net Price$39,061
Median Debt at Graduation$19,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$201

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$13,331
$30–48K$18,539
$48–75K$26,954
$75–110K$28,353
$110K+$48,713

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

55.8%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$19,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

15

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

4

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

2

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

4

Drug Arrests

3

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (38)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

85%

Mixed
  • 85% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,904
Gender Split
53% / 47%
Women / Men
First Generation
19%
Pell Grant Recipients
17%

Race & Ethnicity

White 58%
Black 5%
Hispanic 10%
Asian 5%
Two+ 4%
Int'l 17%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate86.0%
Freshman Retention85.0%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$62,544
10 Years$76,124

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#31
1
vs 2024
Forbes
#101
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
2
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#21
2
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Diplomats

Intercollegiate competition

History & Fun Facts

  • History Franklin College (18th century) Franklin College was chartered on June 6, 1787, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on the site of a former brewery.
  • " Its first trustees included five signers of the Declaration of Independence, two members of the Constitutional Convention, and seven officers of the Revolutionary War.
  • The school's first classes were taught on July 16, 1787, with instruction taking place in both English and German, making it the first bilingual college in the United States.
  • The first class consisted of 78 men and 36 women; Franklin was the first college in the United States to accept female students.
  • Among its first students was Richea Gratz, the first Jewish female college student in the United States.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MDT Harrisburg26 mi
PHL Philadelphia PHL58 mi
ABE Lehigh Valley62 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA317 mi · ~9h 9m drive
New York, NY130 mi · ~3h 45m drive
Hartford, CT224 mi · ~6h 28m drive
Providence, RI284 mi · ~8h 12m drive
Albany, NY224 mi · ~6h 28m drive
Syracuse, NY207 mi · ~5h 59m drive
Rochester, NY225 mi · ~6h 30m drive
Buffalo, NY237 mi · ~6h 51m drive
Philadelphia, PA61 mi · ~1h 46m drive
Pittsburgh, PA196 mi · ~5h 40m drive
Harrisburg, PA34 mi · ~59 min drive
Newark, NJ123 mi · ~3h 33m drive
Trenton, NJ84 mi · ~2h 26m drive
Southern (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Harrisburg (MDT)26 miles
Rental car
39 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
52 min$31-52
Philadelphia PHL (PHL)58 miles
Rental car
87 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
116 min$70-116

Deadline Calendar

Franklin and Marshall College Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

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