Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 12.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 87/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Haverford College scores 87 out of 100 on ROI. Its admission rate is 12.4%. Fewer than 1,430 undergraduates attend, making it genuinely intimate. Despite sticker tuition above $70,000, net price lands at $25,314 on average, and the median graduate carries just $13,621 in debt. Payback clocks at 5.4 years. Completion sits at 89.6%, far above the national average. Economics graduates earn $112,050 at the four-year mark (35 graduates), and International Relations graduates report $62,242 at four years (18 graduates). Six-year earnings of $44,100 reflect the liberal arts path where many students pursue graduate school before peak earnings hit.
Haverford College scores in the top 7% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Haverford College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $70,688/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $70,688/yr |
| Average net price | $25,314/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $101,256 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $79,966 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,621 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $144 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 89.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,430 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $70,688/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $25,314/year, or roughly $101,256 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,531/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $45,991/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $13,621, which works out to about $144 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,100) and comes to 0.31, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,531 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,388 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,007 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,171 |
| $110,001+ | $45,991 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning below $30,000 pay a net price of $7,531 per year at Haverford - about $30,000 for four years total. The school's aid generosity for low-income students is a genuine differentiator.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $9,388/year and the 48-75k bracket pays $12,007/year - a modest slope upward. The 75-110k bracket reaches $18,171/year.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $45,991 per year - close to full sticker for the top income band. At a school with $44,100 six-year average earnings, that represents a significant upfront investment. The 10-year median of $79,966 and the 5.4-year payback period (calculated on average net price) suggest the investment still pays off, but high-income families should factor in that the ROI case is weaker if paying near full price than for aided students.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at Haverford College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $112,050 | - |
| International Relations | $62,242 | - |
| Psychology | $63,040 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Economics
Haverford Economics graduates (35 per year) reach $112,050 at the four-year earnings mark - a standout figure for a liberal arts Economics program. The college's proximity to Philadelphia and New York financial markets creates a natural pipeline into financial services, consulting, and policy roles. Four-year earnings of $112,050 rival those of engineering programs at much larger universities.
International Relations
International Relations at Haverford produces 18 graduates per year with four-year median earnings of $62,242. Career destinations typically include federal agencies, think tanks, international NGOs, and law school. Graduate school attendance rates in International Relations tend to be high, so four-year earnings understate long-term outcomes - the 10-year school-wide median of $79,966 reflects where many liberal arts graduates land after professional or graduate training.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 92.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 95.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Haverford College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 12.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 740-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 720-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 1,430 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,785 |
At 12.4%, Haverford is highly selective - roughly 1 in 8 applicants gains admission. Admitted students present in the ACT 33-35 range and SAT 720-770 reading, 740-780 math. The school does not publicly weight any single factor above others, but academic preparation and intellectual fit are clearly paramount given the score distribution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Completion is 89.6%. Haverford scores 87 overall - Strong Value.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haverford College (this school) | 87 | $25,314 | $79,966 |
| Claremont McKenna College | 92 | $28,849 | $104,736 |
| Davidson College | 90 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| Grinnell College | 83 | $17,648 | $62,830 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Students who succeed here tend to arrive with strong academic records - admitted students cluster in the ACT 33-35 range and SAT 720-780 reading, 740-780 math. Pell grant recipients make up 15.5% of enrollment. The honor code culture means self-directed learners thrive here. The 89.6% completion rate signals that students who enroll finish, which also reflects the caliber of incoming students. Best fit: academically driven students comfortable in a discussion-heavy, seminar-style environment who plan graduate or professional school after graduation.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Haverford College pays off. You'd pay about $25,314 a year after aid ($101,256 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $79,966 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 89.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $13,621 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Haverford College: Common Questions
Is Haverford College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Haverford College pays off. It scores 87/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $25,314 a year after aid ($101,256 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $79,966 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.4 years to earn back.
How much does Haverford College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $25,314 a year, or roughly $101,256 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Haverford College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $79,966 ten years after enrolling, roughly $38,166 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Haverford College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.4 years for Haverford College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Haverford College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $13,621, against average earnings of $44,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Haverford College?
The six-year graduation rate is 89.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.