From the School
Intellectual. Free-thinking. Classical. Curious. Paradoxical. This constellation of features only begins to describe Reed: one of the most distinctive colleges in the nation.
Reed attracts serious scholars who don't take themselves too seriously. Always engaged and often engrossed in a demanding, exhilarating educational adventure, "Reedies" thrive on a mix of classical study, critical analysis, and guided inquiry that rewards creativity, independence, and reflection. Classes are small, faculty members are highly accessible, and students adhere to an honor principle both inside and outside the classroom.
Reed students hail from 48 states in the nation and Reedies travel the farthest to attend Reed out of any school in the nation. The student body is also composed of 11 percent international students. Reed ranks second among U.S. liberal arts colleges in the percentage of graduates going on to earn doctoral degrees and fourth among all institutions of higher education. The breadth, depth, and rigor of the curriculum provide great preparation for nearly any career. Many Reed alumni found or lead companies and organizations, earn medical or law degrees, write books or create works of art, and work to make life on the planet better for all.
Overall
From The School
Reed seeks students who demonstrate a commitment to learning and to the ideals embodied by a rigorous and stimulating liberal arts education. First-year and transfer applications are welcome. The ideal incoming class is diverse in its range of talents, interests, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and perspectives, and comprised of students who share a common passion for academic inquiry. Successful applicants have pursued a rigorous secondary school curriculum that includes honors and advanced courses. Reed recommends that students take 4 or 5 core academic courses per year which typically includes 4 years of English, at least 3 years of a foreign or classical language, 3 to 4 years of mathematics, 3 to 4 years of science, and 3 to 4 years of history or social studies. Because secondary school curricula vary widely in quality and content, Reed sets no fixed requirements in this area. The admissions committee sets no "cutoff points" for high school grades, college grades (for transfer students), or standardized test scores. Reed seeks candidates who demonstrate excellence of character, motivation, intellectual curiosity, individual responsibility, and social consciousness. The admission committee recognizes the importance of creating a diverse community in which individual differences contribute to the vitality of the campus and enhance the learning opportunities for students. Reed recommends a personal interview but an interview is not required. Early Decision applicants should apply to Reed by November 15 (ED 1) or December 20 (ED 2). Early Decision at Reed is binding: students who are admitted under Early Decision are expected to matriculate. Early Action applications should arrive at Reed by November 15. The deadline for regular freshman admission applications is January 15. Transfer candidates seeking admission for the spring semester should apply no later than November 1 and for the fall semester, March 1.
Overview
Applicants
5,815
Acceptance Rate
39%
Average HS GPA
4.00
SAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
670 - 750
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
655 - 770
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
30 - 34
Testing Policies
ACT Writing Policy
ACT with or without Writing accepted
SAT Essay Policy
SAT with or without Writing accepted
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 15
Early Decision II — December 20
Early Action — November 1
Regular — January 15
Other Admission Factors
Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Application Essay
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreOverall
From The School
Academic Programs
The curriculum at Reed is both demanding and wide-ranging. Through required studies, Reed students receive a solid grounding in the liberal arts and sciences.
All freshmen must complete Humanities 110, which introduces students to academic life at Reed and provides rigorous instruction in research and writing. Distribution requirements set a substantial portion of a student's curriculum for the first two years at Reed. Students must complete courses in each of the three major divisions of the college. Beyond Humanities 110, no specific courses are required; students are free to pursue their interests.
Reed juniors take a comprehensive qualifying exam in their major to allow faculty members the chance to evaluate and assist in the student's readiness for his or her senior thesis project. The required senior thesis is the capstone experience of a Reed education. Every senior produces an original independent research project over the course of the final year.
Reed strongly believes that learning should be undertaken for its own sake, not for the sake of letter grades. Accordingly, students do not receive grade reports unless they wish to. A student's transcript does include letter grades for all courses taken, but students can better gauge their progress through professors' written evaluations of their work and one-on-one meetings with faculty. Most prefer this system, which greatly reduces competition among students and allows them to focus on the content of their academic work.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Reed confers the bachelor of arts degree in 41 traditional academic departments and interdisciplinary combinations across a wide selection of fields. Approval of an interdisciplinary program (linking two or more disciplines) is reviewed by the student's adviser and the departments concerned.
Reed offers a number of 3-2 (dual degree) programs; these allow undergraduates to earn a three-year bachelor's degree from Reed, then earn a professional degree in engineering, computer science, or forestry from a cooperating institution (Caltech, Columbia, Duke, RPI) in two additional years.
Faculty and Class Information
Student/Faculty
9:1
Total Faculty
163
with Terminal Degree
157
94
Men
69
Women
27
Minority
8
International
Most frequent class size
10 - 19
Most frequent lab / sub section size
10 - 19
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
68%
Graduate in 5 years
78%
Graduate in 6 years
81%
Majors
-
AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
-
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Molecular Biology.
-
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
Creative Writing.
English Language and Literature, General.
-
FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Chinese Language and Literature.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Linguistics.
Russian Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
-
HISTORY.
History, General.
-
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
-
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
-
MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
-
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
-
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
-
PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Physics, General.
-
PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
-
SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology.
Economics, General.
International Relations and Affairs.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology.
-
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Dance, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Music, General.
Students Say
Reed is a college synonymous with academic rigor and a “passion for learning” certainly permeates this campus. A political science major steadfastly agrees stating, “Reed’s commitment to academic excellence blew me away. The students here work like demons and love it!” In fact, “Reedies are proud that the most popular location on campus is the library, regardless of the night of the week.” Fortunately, “there is a collective humor on campus and no one takes themselves too seriously.” Undergrads also closely adhere to an “Honor Principle,” which ensures that “cheating, peerpressure or antagonism of any kind [is] extremely rare.” This also helps to foster a culture where “people would rather help each other learn than be the best.” Additionally, small classes are integral to the academic experience here. The 9:1 “student to faculty ratio assures that the professors have the time to devote to their students, and students have plenty of opportunities to use that time, be it in thesis meetings, regular office hours, or just to bug the professor about a question they had about that day’s conference or lab.” And these undergrads are eager to lap up conversation with their “brilliant” professors who “love teaching” and “will not allow you to settle for mediocrity.” All in all, the college “breeds free thought, pushes students to their intellectual limits, and strengthens each student’s character all in the context of the welcoming environment that is the Reed campus and the surrounding city of Portland, Oregon.”
Degrees
Bachelor's
Master's
Master's
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Howard Vollum
co-founder of Tektronix, Inc.
John G. Sperling
CEO Apollo Group, parent company of U. of Phoenix
Gary S. Snyder
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
Richard Danzig
former Secretary of the Navy
James Russell
inventor of the compact disc
Robert Morris
sculptor
Susan Sokol Blosser
vintner
Academic Rating
99/99
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
68%
Graduate in 5 years
78%
Graduate in 6 years
81%
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Information from PayScale:
Starting Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$56,100
Mid-Career Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$104,900
Starting Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$58,300
Mid-Career Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$123,300
Percent High Job Meaning
26%
Percent STEM
49%
Students Say
The aptly named Center for Life After Reed is dedicated to connecting students with experiential learning during their time in college and with professional contacts for their future careers. Paid summer internships abound through the Internship Advantage Initiative, and winter Externships let Reedies learn even more about interesting career paths. SEEDS links students to service learning gigs throughout the year, and the weekly e-mail digest Beyond Campus Opportunities reminds them about upcoming fellowship deadlines, interesting employment opportunities, and more. According to PayScale.com, Reed graduates report average starting salaries of $53,400, and 51 percent derive a high level of meaning from their work.
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $56,030. A $310 student body fee is added. Room and board is an additional $14,210, bringing the yearly total cost to $70,550.
Financial Aid
Reed College meets 100% of the demonstrated need for its incoming students and continuing students. The college maintains a need-based assistance program that allows students of all economic backgrounds to attend the college. For the incoming class of 2022, the average financial aid package including grants, loans, and work opportunities was approximately $45,942. Reed students' average graduating loan debt for all four years is $17,336, well below the national average. The college is the primary source of grant money for its students. Reed also administers federal sculptor grants and a number of other awards. Campus employment and work-study programs also figure into many aid packages. Over half of Reed undergraduates receive financial aid.
Dates
Application Deadlines
Jan 15
Notification Date
Apr 1
Required Forms
Business Farm Supp
FAFSA
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
FAFSA
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$42,096
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$39,742
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,262
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
52%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$25,657
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$34,856
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
$60,310
Required Fees
$310
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,050
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
$1,800
Transportation for Commuters
$1,125
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Federal and Institutional
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
College/university loans from institutional funds
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Direct Lender
No
Financial Aid Rating
99/99
Overall
From The School
Reed maintains inclusivity in all organizations and activities, so the college has no fraternities or sororities and no NCAA or NAIA athletic teams (more about sports below). All campus organizations are student-created and student-run. Student organizations must lobby the Student Senate for funding annually, after which the Senate oversees a vote in which the entire student body decides what organizations should be funded. Thus, the number and nature of campus organizations at Reed changes every year to meet current student interests. Instead of NCAA or NAIA competition, students participate in sports on an informal basis. Intramural sports and club sports proliferate in basketball, fencing, rugby, sailing, soccer, squash and ultimate Frisbee. A three-semester physical education requirement underscores the importance of physical fitness and the balance of healthy mind and body.
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
1,457
Foreign Countries Represented
46
Demographics
7.63%
Asian
1.47%
African-American
9.80%
Hispanic
58.29%
Caucasian
2.10%
Unknown
11.20%
International
53% female
47% male
97% are full time
3% are part time
Students Say
As you probably already gleaned, the typical Reedie has “an overwhelming curiosity and desire to question everything.” “Socially liberal” and a tad “socially awkward,” these undergrads also define their peers as “witty and talented,” and “smart.” A content sophomore explains, “Everyone brings their own unique spin to everything— everyone has a hidden talent or skill that they would love to teach you about, or a wealth of knowledge in some obscure subject you’ve probably never heard of. Everyone is passionate about something, and it creates a dynamic and wonderful atmosphere.” Additionally, “fitting in isn’t hard, because student interests are so diverse that there’s almost always a number of other people who like the same things you like and want to do the same things you want to do.” Finally, a succinct sophomore sums up, “At Reed I found the kind of student body I craved in high school.”
Overview
From The School
Location
Located in a quiet residential neighborhood is a 116-acre campus of verdant lawns, winding paths, statuesque trees, a wooded natural wetland preserve, and a spring-fed lake frequented by migratory birds and other wildlife. Reed is a short bicycle, bus, and light rail ride from the energy and excitement of downtown Portland, which is widely cited as the nation's most livable urban center. Portland boasts a wealth of diverse cultural, entertainment, shopping, and dining opportunities in an environment characterized by a combination of youthful exuberance and Pacific Northwest nonchalance. The Oregon Coast is 90 minutes to the west and Mt. Hood 90 minutes to the east where Reed has its own ski cabin that is free of charge for students to use.
On the campus itself, century-old brick Tudor gothic buildings are interspersed with newer traditionally designed and remodeled facilities. The library, classrooms, and laboratories resonate with the history of decades of inquiry and discovery, supported with modern technology.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
The Reed College campus was established on a tract of land known in 1910 as Crystal Springs Farm. In a park-like setting near the heart of the city, the rolling lawns and open spaces of Reed's 116-acre campus include some of the largest and finest specimen trees in the Portland area.
The social center of the college is the Gray Campus Center. It includes a commons building, student union, kitchen, dining room, private meeting rooms, student activities offices, bookstore, and mail services.
At the physical center of campus is the canyon, a beautiful wooded upland surrounding a spring-fed lake and emergent marsh. A walking trail around the lake provides numerous opportunities to observe migratory birds and other woodland wildlife. The college recently built a fish passageway that creates a link from the upper Reed Lake area to the Crystal Springs stream below.
In fall 2013, Reed opened a new Performing Arts Building, representing a major step forward in the College's commitment to the important role the arts have played throughout Reed's first 100 years. For the first time in Reed's history, the departments of music, dance, and theatre are housed in one building that includes rehearsal and performance space, offices, scene and costume studios, collaborative spaces, and a multimedia lab.
Housing at Reed includes traditional residence halls, as well as theme dorms, co-ops, and language houses. Reed's newest residence hall will open in the fall of 2019.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Reed undergraduates may participate in a number of domestic exchange and study abroad opportunities. Domestic programs include: Howard University in Washington, D.C.; Sarah Lawrence College in New York; and Sea Education Association in Massachusetts. In addition, Reed provides study-abroad opportunities for students in Australia, Argentina, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Kenya, Lebanon, Palestine, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turks and Caicos, and the United Kingdom. Students may also arrange independent study plans in consultation with appropriate faculty members.
Campus Life
Undergrads living on campus
68%
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes
89/99
First-Year Students living on campus
100%
Campus Environment
Large Urban
96/99
Housing Options
Apartment Single
Cooperative
Disabled Student
Cooperative
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Dorms Female
Wellness Housing
Dorms Female
Wellness Housing
Students Say
Intellectual discussions and debates are most definitely woven into the fabric of life here. As a physics major reveals, “One of my favorite things about Reed is how often people will strike up engaged discussions about anything. Be it conversations about the axiom of choice, the existence of free will, or the various merits of 1990s television shows, every conversation is fascinating. Best, you’ll hear these conversations everywhere you go: dining hall, dorms, academic buildings, even just people walking around campus.” Of course, this isn’t wholly surprising given that life at Reed “revolves around academics.” But fear not; even Reedies cannot survive by books alone. And, “while work and fun are, in many cases, synonymous, the need to break free from the library manifests on the weekends by campus dances and other forms of spontaneous creativity.” A psychology major quickly adds, “I’m never bored because there’s always something going on and it’s never the same. Glittery dance parties in the Student Union? Check. Movie night in one of the Language Houses? Check. Debate-watching in Vollum? Check. Visiting lecturers? Check. Pool hall tournament? Check. RPG gaming night? Check.” Finally, undergrads may take advantage of anything downtown Portland has to offer.
Special Needs Admissions
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
130
Number of Honor Societies
1
Number of Social Sororities
0
Number of Religious Organizations
5
Sports
Athletic Division
Other
Student Services
Health
Sustainability
60*
Campus Security Report
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: http://ope.ed.gov/security
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
% of Classrooms with Wireless Internet
100
Fee for Network Use
No
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Yes
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
No
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Yes
Description
Apple Computer
Campus Visits Contact
Contact
Kelsey Platt
Assistant Director of Campus Visits
Assistant Director of Campus Visits
Address
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, OR 97202-8199
Portland, OR 97202-8199
Phone
1-800-547-4750
Email
admission@reed.edu
Experience College Life
Most Popular Places On Campus
Thesis Tower
Reed Research Reactor
Reed Canyon/watershed
Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery
Reed Research Reactor
Reed Canyon/watershed
Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Columbia Gorge
Oregon beaches
Powell's Books
Mt. Hood/Ski Cabin
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Oregon beaches
Powell's Books
Mt. Hood/Ski Cabin
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Campus Tours
Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times:
Average Length: 1 hour
Dates: Year-round
Times:
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
Yes
Information Sessions
Available
Times
Faculty and Coach Visits
Dates/Times Available
N/A
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Contact Email Address for Visit
admission@reed.edu
Class Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Transportation
Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Reed College is in a southeast Portland neighborhood, five miles from the downtown area and 12 miles from Portland International Airport. From the airport you can reach Reed by car, bus, taxi, or airporter van. For taxis, call Broadway Cab at 503-227-1234, New Rose City Cab at 503-282-7707, or Radio Cab at 503-227-1212. Cab fare from the airport to Reed is approximately $35. Cabs can be found at the airport taxi-limousine area. Ask the driver to take I-205 to the Foster Road exit. Travel time is 20-30 minutes.
The Blue Star Airporter (503/249-1837) will take you from the airport to campus for $30.00 (plus a $.75 airport fee). The shuttle leaves the airport every half-hour. Travel time is 20-30 minutes. The roundtrip fare is $56.75.
For an even cheaper ride, take Tri-Met MAX light rail or bus from downtown or the airport for $2.05. Board the Tri-Met MAX from the airport taxi-limousine area. Transfer at 60th Avenue MAX station or at Hollywood MAX station. Travel time varies; plan on an hour and a half. To find out when the next bus runs, call 503/238-RIDE, or check online at www.transit.org.
Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses serve Portland. From the station, take a Tri-Met #1, 5, 9, or 40 bus on N.W. Broadway going south to the transit mall on S.W. 5th Ave.; transfer to bus #19, (Woodstock) which will take you to the front of the college.
Driving Instructions to Campus
From the north on I-5:
Take the I-84 East exit (#301), then the 39th Avenue exit (#2). Turn right (south). Travel 3.5 miles to SE Woodstock Boulevard, then turn right (west). Reed is on the right.
From the south on I-5:
Take the Ross Island Bridge exit and follow the signs to cross the bridge. At the east end of the bridge, take the 99East/Milwaukie exit. Follow 99E (McLoughlin Boulevard) to the Eastmoreland/Reed College exit. Just off the exit, turn right (east) onto SE Bybee Boulevard. Veer left (north) onto SE 28th Avenue [the Eastmoreland Golf Course will now be on your left (west)], and drive north to the intersection of SE 28th Avenue and SE Woodstock Boulevard. Reed is directly ahead.
From the airport:
By car, take I-205 south to the SE Powell Boulevard exit. Travel west on Powell to SE 39th Avenue. Turn left (south) on 39th Avenue, passing through several major intersections until you reach SE Woodstock Boulevard. Turn right (west) on Woodstock. Reed will be on the right hand side
Local Accommodations
For accommodations in Portland please visit the Admission web page at: http://www.reed.edu/apply/accommodations.html
