Haverford College combines highly selective admissions with exceptional return performance. Graduates achieve median earnings of $79,966 with remarkably low debt levels of $13,621, creating favorable debt-to-earnings ratios and strong long-term financial stability for liberal arts graduates.
With top-tier performance, reflecting the institution's ability to generate strong earnings relative to educational costs
Around the national average, reflecting moderate cost control relative to similar institutions
Around the national average, indicating moderate enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students relative to other institutions
With above-average performance, suggesting solid outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds despite limited access metrics
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisHaverford College delivers strong earnings outcomes with exceptionally manageable debt levels. Graduates earn median salaries of $79,966 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 93rd percentile nationally for long-term earnings performance.
The earnings distribution spans from $57,103 at the 25th percentile to $117,492 at the 75th percentile, reflecting diverse career paths across liberal arts disciplines. While earnings beyond expectations show typical performance at -$3,550, the institution's strength lies in producing consistently high earners across programs.
Students seeking an academically rigorous liberal arts education with strong career outcomes and manageable debt levels. Well-suited for high-achieving students who value small class sizes and close faculty relationships, particularly those prioritizing long-term earning potential over immediate financial aid generosity.
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.
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This is the Haverford College hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/haverford-college/analysis.
Top-tier return on educational investment
Haverford College leads with top-tier return performance, ranking at the 92.7th percentile nationally for return on educational investment. Located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, this small private liberal arts college maintains highly selective admission standards with a 12.9% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
The institution enrolls 14.1% Pell-eligible students and 16.2% first-generation students, placing it below typical peers on access measures but maintaining strong academic preparation standards. Graduates earn median salaries of $79,966 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 93rd percentile nationally.
Compared to the peer median of $50,412, Haverford graduates earn $29,554 more annually. Students achieve these outcomes with median debt of just $13,621, well below the peer median of $25,000.
This combination of selective admissions, strong earnings performance, and controlled borrowing creates favorable conditions for long-term financial success.
Haverford College admits 12.9% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 8 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Haverford among highly selective liberal arts colleges in the United States, with acceptance rates typical of top-tier institutions.
The peer median admission rate of 75.6% highlights the stark difference between Haverford's selectivity and typical four-year institutions, representing a 62.7 percentage point gap. Even among private liberal arts colleges, Haverford's 12.9% acceptance rate positions it as significantly more competitive than average.
This level of selectivity means that many academically qualified students face uncertainty in the admission process, regardless of their credentials. Students with strong academic records who would thrive at Haverford may not receive admission due to the high volume of qualified applicants competing for limited spots.
For this reason, prospective students should treat Haverford as a reach school and build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes. The sections below provide alternative schools that deliver similar post-graduation earnings with more accessible admission or different geographic options for students seeking liberal arts excellence.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Haverford College's published cost of attendance reaches $84,605 per year, including $68,300 in tuition, $18,880 for room and board, and $1,240 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays substantially less at $25,210 after financial aid, representing savings of $59,395 from the sticker price.
This significant gap between published cost and actual net price demonstrates Haverford's commitment to need-based financial aid, though the average net price remains above many peer institutions. The net price of $25,210 compares to a peer median of $21,812, placing Haverford $3,398 higher than typical institutions serving similar student populations.
Net prices vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $3,600 for families earning under $30,000 to $44,137 for families earning over $110,000. This progressive pricing structure indicates substantial aid targeting toward lower-income students, though the institution's overall net price suggests limited aid availability for middle and upper-middle-income families.
Families should use the Federal Student Aid calculator to estimate their specific costs, as individual circumstances significantly impact final pricing at institutions with large endowments like Haverford.
Haverford College graduates demonstrate strong and accelerating earnings growth over time. Median earnings progress from $53,353 six years after enrollment to $67,379 at eight years and $79,966 at ten years, representing impressive 49.9% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes reflect data from a ten-year cohort of 131 graduates, providing reliable confidence in reported figures despite the institution's small size. Graduates earn median salaries placing Haverford in the 93rd percentile nationally for long-term earnings outcomes.
The earnings trajectory shows consistent upward momentum, with the largest gains occurring between the six and eight-year marks as graduates establish themselves in professional careers. Earnings span from $57,103 at the 25th percentile to $117,492 at the 75th percentile, demonstrating solid outcomes across different career paths.
Compared to peer institutions with a median of $50,412, Haverford graduates earn $29,554 more annually, highlighting the institution's ability to prepare students for high-earning careers. Graduate school continuation is estimated using program mix analysis, though confidence levels remain low due to limited cohort sizes in individual programs.
Haverford College does not currently provide federal earnings data for individual academic programs, reflecting the institution's small size and liberal arts structure where many programs have limited cohort sizes. Federal reporting requirements mandate minimum cohort thresholds that small liberal arts colleges often cannot meet across multiple specialized programs.
The institution's overall strong earnings performance of $79,966 median ten years after enrollment suggests consistent outcomes across the academic portfolio, but specific program-level performance data remains unavailable through federal College Scorecard reporting. Students interested in specific program outcomes should contact Haverford's career services directly for detailed information about graduate placement and earnings in particular fields.
The institution's strong overall return performance indicates that graduates across various liberal arts disciplines achieve favorable career outcomes, though program-specific variations cannot be quantified through available federal data sources. This data limitation is common among small liberal arts institutions where individual departments may graduate fewer than the federal minimum required for earnings disclosure.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bryn Mawr College Higher acceptance rate (18.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 1 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 31% | $75,217 | Compare |
Drexel University Higher acceptance rate (64.6 percentage points higher) and located 7 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 78% | $84,648 | Compare |
Lafayette College Higher acceptance rate (18.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 48 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 31% | $91,410 | Compare |
Binghamton University Higher acceptance rate (24.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 38% | $80,596 | Compare |
University Of Rochester Higher acceptance rate (22.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 36% | $79,042 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art Similar quality tier in Northeast (#318 ranked) | NY | 19% | $83,847 | #318 | Compare |
Aurora University Similar quality tier (#337 ranked) | IL | 85% | $58,709 | #337 | Compare |
Fresno Pacific University Similar quality tier (#339 ranked) | CA | 58% | $58,896 | #339 | Compare |
New York Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier in Northeast (#340 ranked) | NY | 78% | $70,080 | #340 | Compare |
Pomona College Similar quality tier (#280 ranked) | CA | 7% | $77,779 | #280 | Compare |