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How to Get Into Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofit · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data

Franklin and Marshall College Admissions Statistics

28%
Acceptance Rate
660-730
SAT Reading (mid 50%)
650-733
SAT Math (mid 50%)
30-33
ACT (mid 50%)
1,799
Undergrads
84%
Graduation Rate

How to Actually Get Into Franklin and Marshall College

Understand what 28% really means

At Franklin and Marshall College's admit rate, your position against the published ranges genuinely matters. Land above the middle 50% and this behaves like a target; inside it, a true toss-up worth real effort on essays and fit signals; below it, treat it as a reach. Place it on your list accordingly instead of trusting the headline rate.

Position your scores against the real bands

The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1310-1463 combined SAT or 30-33 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you and this can behave like a target. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Since scores are not required (test-optional) here, submit only if you're inside or above the band; a below-band score is information you don't have to volunteer.

Use the Early Decision round deliberately

Franklin and Marshall College offers Early Decision, which is binding. The early bump is real but overstated (hooked applicants cluster early and inflate it). Spend ED once, on the school where it actually moves you a tier, and only if the money works without comparing aid offers. If that school is Franklin and Marshall College, the deadline table below is your calendar.

The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where Franklin and Marshall College fits.

Franklin and Marshall College Application Deadlines (2025-2026)

Round Deadline
Early Decision (ED) November 15, 2025
Early Decision II (ED II) January 15, 2026
Regular Decision (RD) January 15, 2026

Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.

Application Requirements & Costs

Application platform Common App
Application fee $60
Test scores Not required (test-optional)
Writing supplement Not required
Counselor recommendation Required
Teacher evaluations 1

Franklin and Marshall College Cost & Financial Aid

Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) $85,776
Tuition & fees $70,794
Room & board (on campus) $16,188
Average net price (aid-receiving families) $36,425

What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income

Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:

Family income Average net price / year
$0-30k $12,321
$30-48k $16,942
$48-75k $16,245
$75-110k $25,104
$110k+ $49,996
15.8%
Students receiving Pell Grants
44%
Students taking federal loans
90%
Freshman retention rate
9:1
Student-faculty ratio

These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:

Use Franklin and Marshall College's Official Net Price Calculator →

More Franklin and Marshall College Data, Coming Soon

We're building the deepest per-school database in admissions. Rolling out for Franklin and Marshall College:

Programs & Majors Soon Every degree program at Franklin and Marshall College, with outcomes
Transfer Pathways Soon How to transfer into Franklin and Marshall College, and where transfers come from
Institutional Aid Soon Franklin and Marshall College's own grants and how they're awarded
Private Scholarships Soon Outside scholarships Franklin and Marshall College students actually win

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