Haverford College - Overview
Haverford, a Small Liberal Arts College near Philadelphia, Offers Undergraduates Quaker Values and Rigorous Academics
Haverford College is a small liberal arts college located on a peaceful campus in the Philadelphia suburb of Haverford. It is a private, well-balanced coeducational institution that was founded on Quaker values that embrace a high level of academic strength and stress the importance of individuality.
A rigorous academic program is balanced with an informal atmosphere incorporating small class sizes and a tight-knit academic community. This community has over 1,000 students from 45 different states and almost 40 countries. Most of the classes at Haverford have less than 40 students enrolled in each with as few as 10 in some.
Haverford was established in 1833 and has the largest collection of cricket literature in the western hemisphere and one of the largest collections of Quaker history in the world. Besides being rich in history in and of itself, Haverford is only 10 miles from Philadelphia, one of the most culturally rich cities in the U.S.
Top Majors at Haverford Include English, Psychology, Biology, and Economics, Among Others
Haverford College has many liberal arts majors to choose from, with the most popular being in the fields of English, psychology, biology, political science, and economics. Haverford also offers majors in archaeology, astronomy, classics, computer science, East Asian studies, fine arts, French, history, mathematics, music, philosophy, religion, Russian, sociology, and many more.
In addition to the 55 academic departments and programs Haverford has to offer, there is also a unique four-college exchange program with institutions such as Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and the University of Pennsylvania. There is also a 3-2 shared engineering program with Caltech. Haverford students can also take classes at the Wharton School of Business. These partnerships contribute to unique academic and social experiences that produce rich educational development and lifelong friendships.
Low Teacher-to-Student Ratio at Haverford Promotes an Intimate Learning Dynamic
One of Haverford's major strengths can be found in the faculty. There is an intimate student-faculty ratio of 8:1. Besides being described as "bright" and "solid," the faculty has also been labeled "personable," which lends itself to the ideal of the institution of mutual respect and collaboration.
Haverford Has a Long History of Athletic Participation and Success
Haverford has the only collegiate cricket team and the oldest soccer team in the country, winning the first-ever collegiate soccer match over Harvard in 1905. The men's outdoor track team won all 16 Centennial Conference championships, with the women's team capturing the last four conference titles. In 1997, Karl Parnya became the first Division III athlete to run a four-minute mile. Former team captain Philip Noel-Baker later captained Britain's Olympic team on which the movie "Chariots of Fire" was based, as well as winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1959.
Haverford College competes at the NCAA Division III level of the Centennial Conference and had an undefeated MACFA season in fencing in 2007. Haverford is a member of both the Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) and the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association. (NIWFA) The women's volleyball team also has NCAA tournament wins in 2006 and 2007.
A Wide Variety of Financial Aid is Available at Haverford, such as Grants, Scholarships, Federal Aid, and Traditional Loans
Financial aid is available at Haverford, though not based on academic, musical, or athletic merit and instead on need and other criteria developed by the college. In addition to having a strong financial aid program, there are work-study opportunities available. Many students also apply for regional, federal, and private grants; loans; and various scholarships offered through the college's office of financial aid.
The Campus of Haverford, and Neighboring City of Philadelphia, Offer Many Different Extracurricular Activities to Enjoy
Haverford Township is about 50,000 in population and is also near other universities, such as Bryn Mawr and Villanova, which gives this "college town" a plethora of coffee houses, bookstores, and eateries to choose from. While Haverford itself offers a peaceful and green retreat from city life, it is conveniently located on the Main Line train with easy access to the energetic city of Philadelphia, with its historically rich neighborhoods, top restaurants, museums, performing art venues, and professional sports teams.
Some of Philadelphia's activities and attractions include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rodin Museum, Liberty Bell Center, the Philadelphia Orchestra, National Constitution Center, the Betsy Ross House, and Penn's Landing just to name a few. Philadelphia is also home to the Phillies baseball, Sixers basketball, Eagles football, and Flyers hockey teams as well as many college sports programs, including NCAA Division I basketball.
Many Modes of Transportation, from Local Bus Lines to Major Airports, Are Available to Haverford Students
Haverford offers the blue bus and SEPTA's R5 and R100 to connect to nearby colleges that have a co-study program with Haverford. There are also trains, trolleys, and taxicab services that operate through surrounding towns and the greater Philadelphia area. The Philadelphia International Airport is only 20 miles from Haverford.