How to get into Franklin and Marshall College
How to get into F&M: small Pennsylvania LAC, generous aid, ED-driven
28.2%
Acceptance rate
$70,794
In-state cost
What makes Franklin and Marshall College admissions different
Franklin & Marshall (Lancaster, PA, ~2,400 students) is a small, residential, academically rigorous LAC. Admit rate ~28%. ED admit rate is roughly double RD. F&M meets full demonstrated need for U.S. applicants and is need-blind. Strong in pre-med, government, business.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply ED I (Nov 15) or ED II (Jan 15) if F&M is your top choice.
- 2.
Write a specific 'Why F&M' supplement — College Houses (residential colleges), Connections curriculum, Lancaster location.
- 3.
Take a rigorous curriculum; F&M cares about preparation.
- 4.
Demonstrated interest matters; F&M tracks engagement.
- 5.
Visit if possible — Lancaster's small-city setting is distinctive.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Generic small-LAC essays.
- ✕
Missing ED. RD admit rate is significantly tougher.
- ✕
Treating F&M as interchangeable with Dickinson or Gettysburg. They're different cultures.
The specifics for Franklin and Marshall College
Application deadlines
- Early Decision INovember 15
- Early Decision IIJanuary 15
- Regular DecisionJanuary 15
What makes this admissions process distinctive
College House residential system
Every student is assigned to one of five College Houses for their entire undergraduate career
Need-blind for U.S. applicants
F&M is need-blind for U.S. applicants and meets full demonstrated need
What graduates actually do
F&M graduates feed law, medicine, finance, consulting, and education. The college's strong pre-health and pre-law advising produces high professional school admit rates. Median early-career earnings run around $52-58k per Scorecard. F&M's alumni network is particularly dense in Philadelphia, NYC, and DC, with strong representation in the federal judiciary and major law firms.
Notable alumni
- Roy Scheider — actor (Jaws)
- Franklin Schaffner — Oscar-winning director (Patton)
- Wallace Carothers — DuPont chemist, inventor of nylon
- Ken Duberstein — former White House Chief of Staff
- Treat Williams — actor (attended)
- Stanley Druckenmiller — hedge fund billionaire
Transfer pathway
F&M admits transfers for fall and spring entry. Applicants need at least one semester of college work with strong grades. The application requires the Common App transfer form, official transcripts, college report, and academic recommendations.
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
F&M ED is the optimal play. The College Houses (residential college system) and pre-med pipeline are distinctive selling points worth engaging with.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.