True College Verdict
B

Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, PA · 1,799 undergraduates · 17% receive Pell Grants · admits 28%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

A good choice overall. It ranks 247 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 75.6 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $33,445 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
86% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $26,758 against earnings of $81,484, a ratio of 0.33. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Franklin and Marshall College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 86% of students graduate, better than 92% of four-year colleges.
  • Students stay: 90% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 86% of four-year colleges.
  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $81,484, higher than 88% of four-year colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Expensive: the average student pays about $33,445 a year after grants, more than at 89% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
86%
Better than 92% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
90%
Better than 86% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$81,484
Better than 88% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$26,758
Better than 63% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$33,445
Better than 11% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$73,210
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other92$42,682$21,631
Business Administration, Management and Operations62$52,733$22,250
Behavioral Sciences51n/a$23,250
Mathematics45n/a$24,609
Economics41$55,964$21,250
Political Science and Government41$41,441$22,875
Public Health36$38,337$22,000
Biology, General24$29,685$21,500
Sociology21$33,459n/a
Natural Resources Conservation and Research19$36,848n/a
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology19n/a$25,575
Anthropology18n/an/a

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Franklin and Marshall College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.