Franklin & Marshall College Profile

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

by CIT Consultant Kim Koffi

Franklin & Marshall College (F&M) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a selective liberal arts college. It blends rigorous academics with a deeply collaborative campus culture. With roughly 1,900 undergraduates, the college offers the intimacy of a small academic community. Students also benefit from opportunities typically found at larger universities.

What Is Franklin & Marshall College Known For?
Franklin & Marshall stands out for strong faculty-student relationships and an interdisciplinary academic culture. The campus community is supportive and collaborative. Students are encouraged to explore widely and work closely with professors. Many students develop leadership experience that prepares them for graduate study and future careers.

Academics at Franklin & Marshall
One of the most distinctive aspects of F&M is its academic flexibility. Students do not formally declare their major until the second semester of their first year or sometime during their sophomore year. This structure gives students time to explore a wide range of subjects.

About one-third of students create their own interdisciplinary majors. The college calls this approach “Creative Collisions.” These combinations may include fields such as music and chemistry or science and public policy.

The most popular major is Business, Organizations, and Society. Students can also pursue majors, including:

• Astrophysics
• Neuroscience
• Science, Technology and Society
• Sustainability
• Public Policy
• History of Art and Architecture
• Animal Husbandry

Faculty relationships are central to the F&M experience. Students often describe being challenged academically while also receiving strong support from professors. The environment is collaborative rather than competitive.

Hands-on learning is common on campus.

• 44% of students participate in faculty-student research collaborations
• Internships, volunteering, and work-study experiences are encouraged

These experiences help students translate classroom learning into real-world impact.

Leadership Opportunities
Leadership development is another hallmark of the college. Franklin & Marshall offers several selective Leadership Fellows Programs.

• Chesapeake Watershed Leadership Fellows
• Creative Writing & Cultural Leadership Fellows
• Future Founders Leadership Fellows
• Public Service Leadership Fellows

Each fellowship includes about 16 students chosen during the admissions process.

Students may also participate in the Diplomatic Leadership Program. All first-year students take a First-Year Seminar. These experiences help students build academic skills and connections early in college.

Student Life at Franklin & Marshall
The campus community is lively and supportive. Students can choose from 110 clubs and organizations. About 300 students participate in Greek life, which includes 12 fraternities and sororities with delayed recruitment.

F&M’s college house system provides students with a secondary identity on campus. Each house has its own traditions and leadership opportunities. Houses also include advisors, a house director, and a faculty “don.” These mentors provide informal academic advising and guidance, especially during the first year.

Students typically remain affiliated with their house throughout their time at F&M.

The college guarantees housing for all four years. Housing options include traditional residence halls, campus row apartments, and apartment-style living for upper-level students.

Arts, Athletics, and Global Opportunities
Arts and athletics are widely accessible on campus. Students can explore creativity through film and media studies, theater venues, performance spaces, and an on-campus art museum. Students can participate even if they are not majoring in the arts.

Athletics are also an important part of campus life.

• About 40% of students participate in varsity sports
• 28 varsity teams compete primarily in Division III
• Men’s wrestling and women’s squash compete at Division I

The college recently received a $7.5 million gift. This funding will support the construction of the Mehlman Center for Strength, Conditioning, Wellness, and Performance.

F&M also prides itself on being a global campus.

• About 20% of students are international
• Some first-year students begin their college experience in Bath, England, before joining the Lancaster campus

Career Preparation and Outcomes
Career preparation begins early at Franklin & Marshall. Students meet with career advisors starting in their first year. Advising tracks include business, health, law and government, social impact and creative fields, and STEM.

The college reports strong outcomes.

• About 80% of F&M applicants are accepted to medical school
• About 90% are accepted to law school

Graduates go on to institutions including Columbia, Georgetown, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and UC Berkeley.

How Selective Is Franklin & Marshall?
Admissions to F&M are competitive. The college accepts roughly 28% of applicants.

The admissions team evaluates several factors.

• GPA
• Course rigor
• Extracurricular involvement
• Leadership
• Personal essays

Standardized test scores are optional. About 60% of applicants choose not to submit them.

Students may apply through:

• Early Decision I (November 15)
• Early Decision II
• Regular Decision in January

Financial Aid
Franklin & Marshall meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. The college uses the CSS Profile and FAFSA to determine aid. Merit scholarships are also available.

The Commonwealth Commitment provides additional support for Pennsylvania families.

• Free tuition for families earning under $75,000
• Reduced tuition capped at Penn State’s in-state tuition for families earning under $150,000

Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Students benefit from F&M’s location in Lancaster, a vibrant town of about 60,000 people. The city is highly walkable. Students have access to over 150 restaurants and food trucks, a weekly farmers’ market, historic theaters, and cultural events and festivals.

An Amtrak station sits just 1.5 miles from campus. The train connects students to Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

CIT Insight
Franklin & Marshall stands out for its strong faculty-student relationships and interdisciplinary academic culture. The community is supportive and collaborative. Students are encouraged to explore widely and develop the leadership and experience needed for graduate study and meaningful careers.