This Is Reed

Reed students are creative, self-propelled, passionate, and analytical. They have a boundless enthusiasm for learning and an unexpected ability to embrace paradoxes. And they love Reed, one of the most intellectual colleges in the country.

This Is Reed.

Reed Facts

Located in the progressive, dynamic city of Portland, Oregon, the Reed campus encompasses 116 acres of rolling lawns and winding paths, a century of distinct periods of architectural design, over 2,000 trees representing more than 125 species, and a 28-acre watershed that is home to a growing population of native wildlife and plants.

Enrollment

1,439 Undergraduate Students

16 Average Class Size

9:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio

1 Honor Principle

0 Fraternities or Sororities

Infinite Points of View

In 2023, Reed's incoming class came from 41 states and 14 countries.

Class of 2027 Geographic Distribution

26% California

13% Mountain/Southwest

18% Northeast

15% Northwest

8% Midwest

6% South

4% Alaska & Hawaii

11% International

Class of 2027 Demographics

32% Domestic-born Students of African, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Island, or Native American Descent

#1 in Best Classroom Experience, Princeton Review 2024

Costs and Financial Aid

100% of Demonstrated Need is Met for Every Admitted Student

Total Cost of Attendance (2023–24)
$83,840

Average Financial Aid Package (Class of 2027)
$59,300

Reed graduates have approximately $10,000 less debt than the national average for all colleges.

#8 in Great Financial Aid out of 389 colleges, Princeton Review 2024

Honors, Prizes, and Scholarships

3 MacArthur Fellows

194 National Science Foundation Fellows

118 Fulbright Students

32 Rhodes Scholars

73 Thomas J. Watson Fellows

ACADEMICS

A Reed education is characterized by close interaction between students and faculty in an atmosphere of shared scholarly concern and active learning.

Explore Reed Academics

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#3 in Professors Get High Marks, Princeton Review 2024

Honor, Independence. Reed's Honor Principle promotes a culture of trust and respect: exams are unmonitored and community members engage in conscientious self-reflection about their words and deeds.

HUM 110 serves as a powerful common experience for first-year Reedies, all of whom are reading the same works at the same time and sharing a significant base of knowledge.

A Little Help From Your Friends. Roughly 50 percent of students make use of Reed's peer tutoring program—many of the 200+ tutors have been tutored themselves.

 

Majors

  • American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese
  • Comparative Literature
  • Comparative Race & Ethnicity Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Dance
  • Dance-Theatre
  • Economics
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • French
  • German
  • Greek, Latin, and Ancient Mediterranean Studies
  • History
  • History-Literature
  • International & Comparative Policy Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Literature-Theatre
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematics-Computer Science
  • Music
  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Religion-Ancient Mediterranean Studies
  • Religion-Political Science
  • Russian
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre

Minors

  • Chinese
  • Comparative Race & Ethnicity Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Dance
  • Economics
  • English
  • Film & Media Studies
  • French
  • German
  • Greek
  • Greek and Latin
  • Latin
  • Linguistics
  • Music
  • Religion
  • Russian
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre

Teacher Scholars

There is a crucial interconnectedness between teaching and research at Reed—faculty culture supports both superb undergraduate teaching and high-level research. Students work side by side with professors in the classroom, on the senior thesis, and on faculty research.

"The opportunity to collaborate with curious and passionate students is one of the extraordinary features of the Reed academic experience." —Sarah Schaack, Professor of Biology

Chemistry Professor Kelly Chacón is proud that their students laid the groundwork for their recent National Science Foundation grant. Learn more.

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COMMUNITY

At Reed, students challenge each other and take care of each other.

Explore the Reed Community

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Students eating dinner around a table.

Forms of Living. Residential life at Reed is designed to bring people together. The kitchen forms the heart of the co-ops, and students live together in "neighborhoods" arranged by class year. Our housing program cultivates the skills students need to promote conversation, resolve conflict, build community, and spark lifelong friendships.

Housing Highlights

  • All of Reed College housing is gender inclusive.
  • Students are able to select their own roommates if they wish. They are able to select roommates of any gender and can do so as an incoming or returning student.
  • All communities on campus have access to full kitchens, as well as ample common spaces for group studying and spontaneous conversation.

Watch Our Reedie Room Tour Playlist

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Reedies Celebrate Unique Traditions

It began on a misty night in 1913 when a group of Reedies from Doyle House snatched a concrete owl and gave it a lofty new perch high atop Old Dorm Block. Ever since, the Doyle Owl has been pursued, defended, and brandished.

Explore More Traditions

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In a prelude to the celebration of Thesis Parade, seniors dressed in costume to burn their notes and drafts in a bonfire after turning in their final copies and earning their laurels.

Student skiing on Mount Hood.

Mountain Hideaway. Just 90 minutes from campus, Reed's ski cabin on Mount Hood is a great place to unwind with friends after a day exploring the mountain.

Students hiking.

ADVENTURE. Reed’s Gray Fund provides students with cost-free cultural, social, and recreational opportunities—from barn dancing and white water rafting to hot-air balloons and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Aerial view of downtown Portland.

Portland. The big city that feels like a small town, the urban center that looks like a forested garden. Take Trimet (Portland's public transit system) to head downtown or go by bike to explore food carts, concert venues, vintage stores, galleries, and museums.

#1 Best Foodie City in America, WalletHub

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It's not just a beautiful campus—it's a residential college in an incredible city that will inspire your passions and engage your imagination.

Open the Reed map image

LIFE BEYOND REED

The fellowship of Reed—the traditions in which you participate, the academic milestones you achieve, and the relationships you form here—is yours for a lifetime.

Explore Life Beyond Reed

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Young Alumni

“Reed gave me the option to do more academically and creatively. I have been able to create my own path as well as understand that to lead is to listen to others . . . I am a much better person because of my Reed education.” —Shelby Williams ’19

Zesean Moiz Ali ’20 / Chemistry
Case Researcher, Harvard Business School

Shelby Williams ’19 / Economics
Consultant and Data Analyst, Deloitte

Natalie Murphy ’21 / Environmental Studies-History
JD Candidate, University of Baltimore Law School

Ben Read

Ben Read ’21 / Comparative Literature
Digital Content Assistant, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library

National Public Radio Correspondent Robert Smith '89 leads a radio workshop during Working Weekend, an alumni-hosted event to help Reedies—both current students and young alumni—explore a range of career paths.

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Ranked Percentage Of Graduates Who Go On To Earn Doctorates

Reed is ranked:

  • 2nd in percentage of graduates who earned doctorates in the social sciences
  • 3rd in percentage of graduates who earned doctorates in the arts and humanities
  • 4th in percentage of graduates who earned doctorates in the physical sciences
  • 4th in percentage of graduates who earned doctorates in all disciplines

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Love Reed.

You will gain wisdom, join a stronghold of griffins, and graduate from Reed prepared to make your own exuberant difference in the world.

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