Franklin and Marshall College

9/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Lancaster, PA
3.8 6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

1,808

Location Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Website fandm.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Small City

Best Colleges Rank

#60

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad

Franklin and Marshall College occupies a 220-acre campus in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, located approximately 70 miles west of Philadelphia. The liberal arts institution, founded in 1787 with a gift from Benjamin Franklin, features Georgian-style architecture across its main campus and historic buildings. The college operates under a residential system where most students live in campus housing organized into College Houses, each with its own faculty mentors and governance structure. F&M maintains a selective admissions process and is known for its strong programs in business, economics, government, and scientific research, with particular emphasis on student-faculty collaborative projects. The campus integrates with the city of Lancaster, a mid-sized urban center, while maintaining distinct academic quadrangles and green spaces that include the Phillips Museum of Art and Millport Conservancy, a 100-acre nature preserve used for environmental research.

See my Chances for Admission

Ratings

F&M is rated within the top 14% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 9 out of 10.

Overall Rating

9 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

9 out of 10
Value

8 out of 10

Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for Franklin and Marshall College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

Best Colleges in the U.S.

#60
Best Private Colleges in the U.S.

#57
Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

#6
Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

#6
Best Value Colleges in the U.S.

#221
Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania

#18

Learn how rankings are calculated

Admissions

Admission Standards

Very High

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1310/1463
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 30/33

Acceptance Rate

28.2%

Applications Due Jan 15, 2027
Enrollment Rate 17.1%
Application Fee $62

Applicant Competition High

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

View Admission Requirements

Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$70,794

Costs for Franklin and Marshall College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$70,794
Books and Supplies		$800
Other Fees		$228
Room and Board		$16,188
Budget for Other Expenses		$1,350
Total One Year Cost		$89,360

View Tuition & Financial Aid Details

Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$61,900 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

85% within 6 years

View Post Graduation Outcomes

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Franklin and Marshall College are Social Sciences, Business, and Biology. 29% of students major in Social Sciences, 12% in Business, and 10% in Biology.