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Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, PA

private nonprofitbachelors

Quick Facts

Lux et Lex (Latin)(Light and Law)

1787
Founded
Private liberal arts college
Type
1,904
Total Students
1,867
Undergrad
$439M
Endowment
(2024)
$68K
Tuition (In-State)
$68K
Tuition (Out-State)
$39K
Avg Net Price
32%
Acceptance Rate
86%
Graduation Rate
6-year
85%
Retention Rate
Baccalaureate Colleges
Classification
President: Andrew Rich

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About Franklin and Marshall College

A historic private liberal arts college known for its pioneering spirit and commitment to student success.

Franklin & Marshall College (F&M) stands as a beacon of liberal arts education with a rich history rooted in the very beginnings of the United States. Founded in 1787 as Franklin College, and later merging with Marshall College in 1853, it proudly bears the names of Benjamin Franklin, who provided its initial endowment, and John Marshall. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, F&M is celebrated as one of the nation's oldest colleges, pioneering innovations such as being the first bilingual college (German and English) and initially accepting female students.

At the heart of F&M's mission is a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum, offering 58 diverse fields of study spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and languages. The college is committed to fostering intellectual growth and global perspectives, exemplified by its advanced studies program in Bath, England. Faculty are supported in their roles as researchers and educators through initiatives like the Faculty Center, backed by a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

F&M cultivates a vibrant and close-knit community, with nearly all of its approximately 1,867 undergraduates living on campus. Students hail from 43 U.S. states and 50 countries, creating a diverse and dynamic learning environment. The college is dedicated to preparing students for life beyond graduation, offering extensive support through the Office of Student and Post-Graduate Development, which provides workshops, job-search boot camps, and alumni programming. F&M also champions educational access, with its F&M College Prep summer program empowering underserved high school students, boasting a remarkable success rate in college enrollment.

Key Highlights

  • Founded in 1787, making it one of the oldest colleges in the United States.
  • Pioneered as the first bilingual college (English and German) and initially the first to accept female students in the U.S.
  • Offers 58 diverse fields of study across the liberal arts disciplines.
  • Maintains an endowment of $439.2 million as of 2024.
  • Features an advanced studies program in Bath, England, enriching global perspectives.
  • Nearly all of its 1,867 undergraduates reside on campus, fostering a close-knit community.
  • The F&M College Prep program has a 90%+ success rate in placing underserved high school students into four-year colleges.

Timeline

1787
Franklin College chartered, becoming the first bilingual college and initially the first to admit female students.
1853
Franklin College merges with Marshall College, forming Franklin & Marshall College.
1963
Martin Luther King Jr. delivers a notable speech on civil rights at Mayser Center.
1969
F&M ends its formal affiliation with the United Church of Christ, becoming a secular institution.
1969
Coeducation is officially reintroduced, with 82 freshman women and 34 female transfer students enrolling.
1976
The Steinman College Center, designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, is constructed.
1987
Franklin and Marshall College celebrates its bicentennial.
2003
The National Park Service establishes the Franklin and Marshall College Campus Historic District.
2011
The F&M College Prep summer immersion program for underserved students is launched.
🏛️
239 Years
of Excellence

Leadership

President

Data from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

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