MHC vs. Reed

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College and Reed College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Mount Holyoke College
Reed College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Reed Portland, OR
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Reed Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Reed 1,358
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Reed Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Reed #77
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Reed -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Reed Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Reed

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Reed $69,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Reed $69,350
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Reed $17,660
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Reed $30,953
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Reed $55,445
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Reed 58%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Reed 9,431
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Reed 2,321
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Reed 24.6%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Reed 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Reed 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Reed 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Reed 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Reed A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Reed Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Reed High
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Reed 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Reed 1290/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Reed Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Reed

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Reed 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Reed
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Foreign Languages (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Reed 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Reed $47,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Reed 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Reed $16,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Reed $165

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Reed 42%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Reed 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Reed Medium
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Reed No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Reed 60%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Reed 5%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Reed 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Reed 11%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Reed 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Reed 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Reed 8%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Reed 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Reed 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Reed 16%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Reed 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MHC Yes
  • Reed Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MHC No
  • Reed No
  • Meal Plan
  • MHC Yes
  • Reed Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MHC No
  • Reed No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MHC No
  • Reed No

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Reed College in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Holyoke College is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (2,275 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Reed College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Reed College 9:1.

MHC vs. Reed Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC or Reed? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Reed College than MHC ($30,953 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reed College are 10.3% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($17,660 vs. $19,684).
  • Reed College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $2,332 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at Reed than at Mount Holyoke College (about $2,332 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Reed College (77% vs. 58%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 5.8% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($55,445 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Reed Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC or Reed? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Reed and MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 50 points higher than at Reed (1410).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Reed).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Reed College 1290/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Reed College 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Reed - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Reed (24.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 13.1% at Reed.

MHC vs. Reed Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC and Reed? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Reed College's (80%).
  • Graduates from Mount Holyoke College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $5,206 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($16,000 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($165 vs. $219).
  • More Reed graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.