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.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at Haverford College demonstrate exceptional academic credentials across standardized testing measures. The middle 50% of enrolled students score between 1430 and 1540 on the SAT, with a median of 1498, placing test performance among the highest we track nationally. SAT Math scores range from 720 to 780, while Verbal scores span 710 to 760, indicating strong performance across both quantitative and analytical reasoning domains. ACT scores for the middle 50% range from 33 to 35, with a median of 34, representing performance at the 99.9th percentile nationally. These ranges represent the 25th to 75th percentile of enrolled students, meaning 25% score below the lower bound and 25% score above the upper bound. Students scoring below 1430 on the SAT or 33 on the ACT remain in contention but face greater competitive disadvantage in the applicant pool. The peer median SAT of 1140 demonstrates that Haverford attracts students scoring 358 points higher than typical four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's position among the most academically selective colleges. Students should consider whether their academic profile aligns with these ranges when assessing fit and building their college application strategy. Those within the middle 50% ranges are academically competitive, while those below should expect to compensate with exceptional strength in other application areas.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Haverford College enrolls students from diverse economic backgrounds, though at levels below many peer institutions. The student body includes 14.1% Pell-eligible students, indicating enrollment of students from lower-income families who qualify for federal need-based aid. First-generation college students comprise 16.2% of enrollment, representing students whose parents did not complete four-year college degrees. Transfer students account for just 2.9% of enrollment, reflecting Haverford's focus on traditional four-year degree completion and limited transfer accessibility. While these diversity metrics remain below those of public institutions or more access-focused private colleges, they indicate Haverford does enroll students from varied economic circumstances alongside those from more privileged backgrounds. The relatively small shares of Pell and first-generation students suggest the institution's student body skews toward higher-income families, which is common among highly selective private liberal arts colleges. Students from lower-income families should note the 14.1% Pell share when considering whether they will find peers with similar backgrounds, while first-generation students should consider the 16.2% representation in their fit assessment. The limited 2.9% transfer enrollment indicates that admission pathways primarily serve traditional freshmen rather than transfer applicants seeking to complete degrees at Haverford.
Given Haverford's 12.9% acceptance rate, most applicants—even highly qualified ones—will need alternative options. The schools below deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission, different geographic options, or better financial value.
Strong options in your region with comparable outcomes.
Students who gain admission to Haverford College demonstrate strong persistence and completion outcomes once enrolled. The freshman retention rate reaches 93.7% compared to a peer median of 74%, indicating that students who choose to attend find strong institutional support and academic fit. The six-year graduation rate of 89.4% substantially exceeds the peer median of 54.9%, demonstrating Haverford's effectiveness in supporting students through degree completion. These completion metrics suggest that students who gain admission are well-prepared for the academic rigor and find the institutional environment conducive to success. The substantial gaps between Haverford's retention and completion rates versus peer medians reflect both the institution's selective admission practices and its commitment to student support systems. While specific completion rates for Pell-eligible students are not available, the overall high completion rate suggests that students from diverse backgrounds succeed at Haverford once enrolled. Prospective students should view these retention and completion rates as indicators of the supportive academic environment they can expect if admitted, recognizing that the institution has demonstrated success in helping students navigate the transition to college and complete their degrees within standard timeframes.
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