Reed College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Portland, Oregon. It enrolls 1,320 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes80
Value16
Affordability9
Selectivity93
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 24.6%, Reed College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
24.6%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1290 – 1520
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Reed College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
12.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Reed College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $33,013 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$33,013
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
15%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
40%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$69,350
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,660
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,690
Books & Supplies
$1,050
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,550
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,550
Total Cost of Attendance
$86,376
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,674
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,514
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,513
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,421
Over $110,000
$46,711
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,43710%percentile
$6,00025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$17,57575%percentile
$23,47390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,608
↓ $2,892
No Pell $14,917
↓ $6,583
Female students $16,250
↓ $5,250
Male students $15,500
↓ $6,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,500, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
79% of full-time students who enrolled at Reed College graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
79%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Reed College earn a median of $62,927 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,927
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$69,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $24,500, about 35% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
5.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Reed College is home to 1,320 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,320
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.3%769
Hispanic 12.3%162
Other 10.7%141
International 8.4%111
Asian 8.1%107
Black 1.7%22
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Reed College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityPortland, Oregon
Housing
Strongly residential1,149 beds for 1,320 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Reed College offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Reed College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$864M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$111,475
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
164 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
78
48%
$133,596
Associate Professors
31
19%
$100,074
Assistant Professors
55
34%
$86,529
Pros & Cons of Reed College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Reed College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Reed College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Reed College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Reed College.
Is Reed College hard to get into?
Reed College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 24.6%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Reed College?
Reed College has an acceptance rate of 24.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Reed College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Reed College scored between 1290 and 1520 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Reed College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Reed College scored between 30 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Reed College cost?
The average net price after aid at Reed College is $33,013 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Reed College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,927 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $33,013 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Reed College known for?
Reed College is best known for its programs in Experimental Psychology, Biology, Information Systems. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Reed College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Reed College are $62,927, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Reed College accredited?
Yes. Reed College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Reed College?
Reed College enrolls 1,320 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Reed College?
Reed College graduates 79% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Reed College a public or private college?
Reed College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Reed College located?
Reed College is located in Portland, Oregon.
What programs does Reed College offer?
Reed College offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Experimental Psychology, Biology, Information Systems.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Reed College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Reed College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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