Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Reed College #989 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $44,518, placing Reed College in the 2.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Reed College #957 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Reed College's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across multiple dimensions of student success. The institution's return on investment places it among the top-performing private four-year institutions nationally.
Azimuth ranks Reed College #989 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Portland, Oregon, Reed College enrolls roughly 1,320 undergraduates. Retention is 87.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 71.5%, reflecting strong student persistence through degree completion. Reed College delivers its strongest performance in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Reed College #957 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $44,518, supported by the institution's concentration in Social Sciences, where employers actively recruit and career pathways remain stable over time. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Reed College sits in the 28.7 percentile for access and the 11.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 14.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, reflecting a student body drawn primarily from higher-income backgrounds. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 83.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families weighing the institution's value proposition, the strong return on investment and solid graduation rates must be weighed against the higher cost structure typical of private liberal arts colleges and the smaller cohort size that shapes alumni network density.
Reed College's published cost of attendance is $86,376. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,674, families in the lower-middle band pay around $12,514, middle-income families pay about $14,513, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $23,421, and higher-income families pay approximately $46,711. Azimuth ranks Reed College #1257 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. Reed College's aid structure is need-based, with demonstrated financial need met through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility and aid packages. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the specific aid structure and availability of merit scholarships should be confirmed directly with the admissions office. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $48,773; 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 Reed College's median four-year earnings of $44,518, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Reed College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in OR. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $44,518, placing Reed College in the 2.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible students — 14.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — and delivers completion outcomes that place Reed College in the 80.6% percentile for Pell completion among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 24.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors humanities and social sciences over applied-professional fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong academic foundation and supportive campus environment.
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
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This is the Reed College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Economics
9 graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
7 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
17 graduates
Biology, General
12 graduates
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
21 graduates
Reed College's program mix is anchored in the social sciences and humanities — a signature shaped by the institution's liberal arts identity and Portland location. Political Science is the largest program with 26 graduates, followed by Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Research Psychology, English Language and Literature, General, and Mathematics.
Across 22 programs, the distribution reflects Social Sciences as the dominant family, with Social Sciences at 22%, Arts at 9%, and other STEM fields at 7%. Reed's program portfolio emphasizes breadth over specialization, consistent with a residential liberal arts model where students pursue inquiry across disciplines rather than concentrating in a single vocational track.
The largest programs — Political Science, Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, and Research Psychology — draw substantial cohorts and reflect the institution's strength in foundational social science and humanities inquiry. This concentration in analytical and interpretive fields aligns with Reed's curricular philosophy and the labor-market pathways typical of liberal arts graduates, where early-career earnings often reflect entry-level positions in education, nonprofit work, research, and creative fields before mid-career advancement.
Several of Reed's largest programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school — particularly in fields like Political Science, Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, and Research Psychology, where advanced degrees in law, medicine, policy, and doctoral research are common next steps. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how liberal arts program families align with longer-term labor-market outcomes and the sectors where Reed graduates tend to concentrate their careers.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lewis & Clark College Higher acceptance rate (47.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 3 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OR | 75% | $62,205 | Compare |
Willamette University Higher acceptance rate (52 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 42 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OR | 79% | $56,911 | Compare |
Oregon State University Higher acceptance rate (51.7 percentage points higher) and located 71 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OR | 79% | $64,010 | Compare |
California State University-San Marcos Higher acceptance rate (68.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CA | 96% | $62,908 | Compare |
University Of Oregon Higher acceptance rate (57.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OR | 85% | $61,324 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Evansville Similar quality tier (#28195 ranked) | IN | 78% | $53,770 | #28195 | Compare |
Morningside University Similar quality tier (#28197 ranked) | IA | 71% | $55,494 | #28197 | Compare |
Clarke University Similar quality tier (#28200 ranked) | IA | 72% | $55,396 | #28200 | Compare |
Oklahoma City University Similar quality tier (#28191 ranked) | OK | 77% | $54,655 | #28191 | Compare |
Universidad Central De Bayamon Similar quality tier (#28190 ranked) | PR | 66% | $25,021 | #28190 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Reed College's published cost of attendance is $86,376. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,674, families in the lower-middle band pay around $12,514, middle-income families pay about $14,513, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $23,421, and higher-income families pay approximately $46,711.
Azimuth ranks Reed College #1257 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.
Reed College's aid structure is need-based, with demonstrated financial need met through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility and aid packages. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the specific aid structure and availability of merit scholarships should be confirmed directly with the admissions office.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $48,773; 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 Reed College's median four-year earnings of $44,518, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 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 Reed College earn median 4-year earnings of $44,518, placing Reed College in the 2.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Reed College #957 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings trajectory reflects Reed College's concentration in Social Sciences, a field where graduates typically see steady income growth through the first decade after enrollment. The program lineup spans humanities, social sciences, and applied fields.
Political Science is the largest program with 26 graduates, followed by Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services (21 graduates) and Research Psychology (20 graduates). English Language and Literature, General and Mathematics round out the core academic portfolio, each enrolling substantial cohorts.
This program distribution — anchored in Social Sciences (22%) and Arts (9%) — shapes the institution's earnings profile and career outcomes across the graduate body.
