Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Franklin and Marshall College #506 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,391, placing Franklin and Marshall College in the 74.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Franklin and Marshall College #183 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Franklin and Marshall College's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes across its social sciences-focused program mix, with graduates achieving above-average earnings relative to similar institutions. The return on investment ranking underscores how these outcomes translate to long-term value for students.
Azimuth ranks Franklin and Marshall College #506 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Franklin and Marshall College enrolls roughly 1,799 undergraduates. Retention stands at 90.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 83.8%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Where Franklin and Marshall College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Franklin and Marshall College #183 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,391, positioning the institution competitively for a baccalaureate college. The social sciences form the institution's academic signature, reflecting a traditional liberal arts focus that prepares students for careers in business, law, policy, and professional fields. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Franklin and Marshall College sits in the 33.7 percentile for access and the 9.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 15.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.5% are first-generation college students. The institution's admission rate of 28.2% reflects a selective admissions posture typical of residential liberal arts colleges. Mobility outcomes sit in the 84.6 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's low-income student outcomes and career-mobility patterns lag the strongest performers in the Azimuth coverage set.
Franklin and Marshall College's published cost of attendance is $85,776. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,321; middle-income families pay around $16,245; higher-income families pay approximately $49,996. Azimuth ranks Franklin and Marshall College #1289 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Franklin and Marshall meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Most admitted students receive need-based financial aid packages that substantially reduce the published cost of attendance. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $51,114; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $74,391, median federal debt of $19,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $215 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Franklin and Marshall College is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts education with a social sciences focus in PA's Northeast region. Azimuth ranks Franklin and Marshall College #506 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,391, placing Franklin and Marshall College in the 74.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The social sciences represent 21% of degrees, making this a particularly strong choice for students interested in those fields. Franklin and Marshall College enrolls 15.8% Pell-eligible and 19.5% first-generation students, with a 83.3% completion rate for Pell recipients. The 28.2% admission rate indicates selective access. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the social sciences concentration means students outside those fields may find fewer program options, and the $49,996 net price for higher-income families requires careful financial planning.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Franklin And Marshall College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Franklin and Marshall College's published cost of attendance is $85,776. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $12,321; middle-income families pay around $16,245; higher-income families pay approximately $49,996. Azimuth ranks Franklin and Marshall College #1289 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Franklin and Marshall meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.
The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Most admitted students receive need-based financial aid packages that substantially reduce the published cost of attendance.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $51,114; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $74,391, median federal debt of $19,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $215 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Franklin and Marshall College earn median 4-year earnings of $74,391, placing Franklin and Marshall College in the 74.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Franklin and Marshall College #183 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings profile reflects a social-sciences-anchored curriculum where graduates move into stable professional and analytical roles across business, law, education, and public service. Program outcomes cluster around the institution's dominant Social Sciences concentration.
Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program with 82 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $74,099, representing 1.3x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 60 students earning $101,895, while Political Science and Economics round out the top programs with 55 and 46 graduates respectively.
The breadth across Social Sciences (21%), Business (9%), and Arts (5%) creates a diversified earnings foundation where outcomes remain consistent across major choice.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
60 graduates
Economics
46 graduates
Public Health
38 graduates
Political Science and Government
55 graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
82 graduates
Franklin and Marshall College's program mix is anchored in the social sciences, reflecting the institution's identity as a liberal arts college with particular strength in analytical and policy-oriented fields. Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program with 82 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Political Science, Economics, and Behavioral Sciences.
Across 26 programs, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes that reflect the college's liberal arts positioning and regional labor-market alignment. The earnings pattern shows concentration in quantitative and professional fields.
Business Administration leads with median earnings of $101,895 four years after enrollment, followed by Economics at $90,368, Public Health at $75,867, Political Science at $74,822, and Interdisciplinary Studies at $74,099. The program mix reflects Social Sciences at 21%, Business at 9%, and Arts at 5%, positioning the college as a social-sciences-leaning institution with meaningful representation in professional and quantitative disciplines.
Many of Franklin and Marshall College's highest-earning programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional roles immediately and earnings reflect labor-market outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national wage trends, helping prospective students understand the economic sustainability of different fields.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gettysburg College Higher acceptance rate (10.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 51 miles away; similar median earnings four years after completion | PA | 39% | $72,658 | Compare |
Gettysburg College Same state (51 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | PA | 39% | $72,658 | Compare |
Bryn Mawr College Similar admission rate (1.2 percentage points difference) and similar test scores (4 point difference) with similar program focus; located 53 miles away | PA | 29% | $57,476 | Compare |
Lafayette College 23.3% higher median earnings four years after completion with similar cost and similar program focus; located 74 miles away | PA | 31% | $91,758 | Compare |
Swarthmore College 36.4% lower net price (earnings difference: 11.8%) and similar program focus; located 52 miles away | PA | 7% | $65,618 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Simmons University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $73823 versus $74391; same region (Northeast) | MA | 70% | $73,823 | #611 |
Curry College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $72447 versus $74391; same region (Northeast) | MA | 88% | $72,447 | #1052 | Compare |
Bates College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $70028 versus $74391; same region (Northeast) | ME | 13% | $70,028 | #549 | Compare |
Daemen University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $70310 versus $74391; same region (Northeast) | NY | 68% | $70,310 | #491 | Compare |
Hobart William Smith Colleges Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $70017 versus $74391; same region (Northeast) | NY | 64% | $70,017 | #1153 | Compare |
