Franklin and Marshall College is a private liberal arts college located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1787 and later formed through the 1853 merger of Franklin College and Marshall College, it offers undergraduate programs across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The college emphasizes close faculty-student interaction, research opportunities, and a broad-based liberal arts curriculum. With a residential campus in a suburban setting, Franklin and Marshall College attracts students seeking a small academic community with strong advising and opportunities for study abroad, internships, and interdisciplinary study. It is affiliated with the Centennial Conference for most athletics and operates primarily as a four-year undergraduate institution.
With a 28.19% acceptance rate, Franklin and Marshall College is selective. Admitted students usually have strong academic records, competitive test scores, and consistent involvement in extracurricular activities. While admission is competitive, applicants who demonstrate solid academic preparation and clear interests have a realistic chance of admission.
Franklin and Marshall College traces its origins to 1787, when Franklin College was chartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, making it one of the earliest institutions of higher education in the state. Named for Benjamin Franklin, the college was founded to provide instruction in both English and German. In 1836, Marshall College was established in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, and in 1853 the two institutions merged to form Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster. Emanuel Vogel Gerhart became the first president of the newly combined college. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Franklin and Marshall College expanded its curriculum and campus facilities. The institution remained all-male until 1969, when it began admitting women. In the twenty-first century, Franklin and Marshall College has continued to develop its academic programs and preserve its historic campus, including designation of a campus historic district in 2003.
Franklin and Marshall College has a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which means small class sizes and close interaction with professors. Students often benefit from more personalized attention, accessible faculty mentorship, and greater opportunities for discussion and research collaboration.
Applying to Franklin and Marshall College involves a holistic admissions process that considers academic preparation, extracurricular involvement, essays, and recommendations. As a selective liberal arts institution in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Franklin and Marshall College looks for students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, engagement beyond the classroom, and a commitment to community. Prospective students can apply through the Common Application and may choose from different decision plans.
Franklin and Marshall College offers need-based financial aid to help make attendance more accessible. The college reviews family financial circumstances through standard aid applications and provides grants, scholarships, work-study, and loan options. Many students at Franklin and Marshall College receive institutional assistance, and applicants are encouraged to review deadlines carefully to maximize eligibility.
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