Reed College, Portland, Courses, Rankings, Admission Criteria, Fees & Scholarships

Reed College is a private liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon, ranked #63 among National Liberal Arts Colleges in the US News Best Colleges 2026 edition. Founded in 1908, Reed enrols close to 1,500 undergraduates on a 116-acre campus in the Eastmoreland neighborhood.

Reed College offers 38 undergraduate majors across 26 departments, with English, Psychology, Biology, Mathematics and Neuroscience as the largest concentrations. The college also runs a graduate Master of Arts in Liberal Studies programme for working professionals. All programmes are taught in English. Reed’s mandatory senior thesis makes it one of the most distinctive undergraduate destinations for Indian students planning a PhD or research career.

• Ranking: #63 (US News National Liberal Arts Colleges 2026)
• Acceptance rate: 36% (estimated)
• Primary intake: Fall (August 2027)
• Annual tuition 2026-27: $73,960 (₹69.9 lakh)
• Financial aid policy: 100% of demonstrated need met for admitted international students
• Median starting salary: $67,900 (₹64.2 lakh) market median per PayScale

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Reed is need-aware for international applicants but commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for those admitted with aid. Fall 2027 international applicants must indicate financial aid intent on the application form itself. The F-1 student visa supports 12 months of OPT after graduation and 36 months total for STEM majors.

Popular Courses and Fees at Reed College 2027

Reed College charges flat tuition of $73,960 (₹69.9 lakh) for the 2026-27 academic year across all undergraduate majors and its Master of Arts in Liberal Studies programme. Every undergraduate degree runs four years, and total programme cost equals annual tuition multiplied by four. Reed raises tuition modestly each year.

[Source: Reed College Institutional Research and 2026-27 tuition schedule]

Insider note: Indian students at Reed cluster in Psychology, Biology, Computer Science and Neuroscience, matching the college’s broader graduate cohort. The mandatory senior thesis carries the same weight regardless of major, so students should pick a discipline they can commit to for a year of independent research.

Read More: Reed College Programs and Fees Guide

Reed College Admission 2027

Reed College runs a single Fall intake for first-year undergraduates with three application rounds. Indian students applying to study in the USA at Reed use the Common Application or the Coalition Application, both accepted for Fall 2027 admission.

[Source: Reed College official deadlines page]

Planning note: Indian applicants should start the Class 12 mark sheet English translation and counsellor recommendation flow 6 to 8 weeks before the ED I deadline of 1 November 2026. Reed does not require WES evaluation, but transcripts and counsellor letters must arrive in English.

Read More: Reed College Admissions Guide for Indian Students

Reed College Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants 2027

Reed College admits Indian applicants primarily as first-year undergraduates against Class 12 board results. Reed does not require the SAT or ACT for admission from India. Indian applicants comparing PG-level options can also review MBA universities in the USA for graduate alternatives.

• Academic: Class 12 with 85% or higher (recommended) from CBSE, ICSE, IB or state boards; SAT and ACT are test-optional
• English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 5.0 or higher (1-6 scale) / 110 or higher (0-120 legacy scale); IELTS 7.0 or higher; Duolingo 145 or higher; waived for English-medium school graduates
• Application documents: Common or Coalition Application, two teacher recommendations, counsellor letter, Class 12 mark sheet, CSS Profile (Reed code 4654) for need-based aid

Note: Reed College does not publish minimum English test scores. Indian applicants from CBSE, ICSE, IB and most private English-medium boards can request a waiver through the Common Application. The 110 TOEFL and 7.0 IELTS figures are averages Reed sees among admitted international students, not admission thresholds.

Reed College Acceptance Rate 2027

Reed College’s overall acceptance rate for the most recent cycle sits at 36% (estimated) per aggregated admissions data. Reed does not publish an annual official acceptance rate for international applicants specifically. Prior cycles reported acceptance rates near 42% based on a Common Data Set of 5,647 applications received.

The 36% figure combines all rounds. Early Decision applicants historically see higher admission rates than Regular Decision because the binding ED commitment signals strong interest to Reed. International applicant selectivity is separately tightened by Reed’s need-aware aid policy.

Reality check: For Indian applicants, Reed’s 36% overall acceptance rate typically tightens for aid-seeking international students because Reed is need-aware. Applying Early Decision I in November signals strong commitment and can improve odds versus Regular Decision, but ED is binding across all financial-aid outcomes.

Read More: Reed College Acceptance Rate

Reed College Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students 2027

Total annual cost of attendance at Reed College for 2026-27 sits at $97,120 (₹91.8 lakh), combining direct costs of $93,170 (₹88.0 lakh) with books, personal expenses and transportation. Optional international health insurance adds $3,654 (₹3.5 lakh) per year.

Reed College Tuition Fees for Indian Students 2026-27

Reed charges flat tuition across all undergraduate majors and the MALS graduate programme. There is no separate international tuition rate.

[Source: Reed College official cost of attendance 2026-27]

Monthly Cost of Living in Portland for Indian Students at Reed College

Reed’s on-campus cost estimates below reflect the 9-month academic year. Portland’s overall living costs sit below coastal metros like San Francisco or Seattle.

[Source: Reed College 2026-27 official cost of attendance figures, distributed over 9-month academic year]

Insider note: Indian students opting for off-campus housing in Eastmoreland, Woodstock or Sellwood neighborhoods pay $900 to $1,400 per month for a shared 2BHK. Groceries at Fred Meyer or Trader Joe’s run $300 to $400 per month. Reed guarantees on-campus housing to all first-year international students.

Read More: Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students

Reed College Campus, Facilities and Student Life

Reed College sits on a 116-acre campus in Portland’s Eastmoreland neighborhood, five miles southeast of downtown Portland.

• Campus setting: 116 acres of Tudor-Gothic architecture with the Reed Canyon wetland preserve running through the centre; 2,000 trees representing more than 125 species
• Housing: On-campus dormitories guaranteed for first-year international students; 65% of undergraduates live on campus (estimated)
• Facilities: Student-operated nuclear research reactor (one of very few undergraduate reactors globally), Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery and Watzek performing arts building
• Portland location: TriMet MAX Light Rail reaches downtown Portland in 25 minutes; Portland International Airport is 20 minutes by car
• Indian community: Small international cohort within the 1,500-student body; Reed hosts an annual Diwali celebration and a South Asian Students Alliance

What Indian students say: Reed’s academic intensity is real. The mandatory senior thesis dominates the final year, and weekly conference-style classes demand more preparation than lectures elsewhere. Portland’s winter rain and Reed’s small size can feel isolating, but the tight-knit community makes up for it.

Reed College Scholarships 2027

Reed College does not offer merit-based scholarships to any applicant, domestic or international. All aid at Reed is need-based. Two named international awards effectively function as merit-plus-need scholarships for Indian applicants. Applicants can also review US colleges offering scholarships for international students for wider funding options.

[Source: Reed College Admission and Aid office, Continental Scholarship announcement, Davis UWC Scholars programme]

Planning note: Indian applicants must indicate financial aid intent on the application form itself. Reed does not accept aid applications after enrolment, and the aid level remains fixed for all four years. Missing the CSS Profile deadline permanently disqualifies international students from institutional aid.

Read More: Reed College Scholarships Guide

Reed College Rankings 2027

Reed College is ranked #63 in the US News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges 2026 edition, with a #12 placement for Best Undergraduate Teaching. Reed does not appear in QS World or Times Higher Education rankings because it sits below the enrolment and research-output thresholds typical for those bodies. Indian applicants interested in STEM options can also review sciences universities in the USA.

[Source: US News Best Colleges 2026, Collegedunia Study Abroad, QS, THE, ARWU]

Key insight: Reed’s #63 US News position signals strong US recognition but limited international brand reach. Indian PhD programmes and employers recognise Reed primarily through its exceptional doctorate-production reputation. Reed ranks #4 among all US institutions for the percentage of alumni earning doctorates, and #2 for life sciences PhDs.

Read More: Reed College Rankings Analysis

Reed College Placements and Career Outcomes 2027

Reed College reports 90% of 2022 graduates secured employment, fellowships, volunteer positions or advanced-degree enrolment within six months of graduation.

• Employment within 6 months: 90% of 2022 graduates in work, graduate school or fellowships; 71% employed or in volunteer roles, 19% in advanced degrees
• Median starting salary: $67,900 (₹64.2 lakh) market median per PayScale (Reed College does not publish an official salary figure)
• Graduate school pipeline: #4 nationally for percentage of alumni earning doctorates across all disciplines; #2 for life sciences PhDs; #3 for arts and humanities PhDs
• Watson Fellows: 67 Reed alumni have received the Watson Fellowship for post-graduate international travel and research
• Career support: Centre for Life Beyond Reed connects students to employers, PhD programmes and fellowship advisors; alumni network active in Portland tech (Nike, Intel) and academia

Insider note: Indian graduates from Reed typically split into two paths. Some enter PhD programmes at US and international research universities. Others pursue industry roles in Portland-area tech and West Coast startups. The 12-month OPT (36 months for STEM majors like Biology and Computer Science) allows immediate work authorisation after graduation.

Reed College vs Peer Universities

Reed College’s peer set includes other private US liberal arts colleges known for academic intensity, thesis-based curricula and strong PhD-track outcomes. Compared with Whitman College, another Pacific Northwest liberal arts peer, Reed offers higher graduate-school placement and a more research-intensive senior year.

Reed College stands apart from peers on two data-backed dimensions. Every graduate completes a year-long senior thesis, and the college ranks #4 nationally for PhD production. Indian applicants prioritising need-blind aid may find Grinnell College a more predictable financial fit.

Reed College fits Indian applicants who thrive in small seminar classrooms, want to write a substantial senior thesis and see undergraduate education as a launchpad for a PhD or research career. Four-year tuition sits near ₹279.6 lakh before need-based aid, weighed against a market-median starting salary of ₹64.2 lakh. Return depends heavily on winning the Continental Scholarship or need-based aid via MS universities in the USA comparisons for graduate follow-ons.

Reed is not built for pre-professional Indian applicants aiming for business, engineering or MBA-track goals. The college runs no professional schools. Applicants prioritising need-blind international aid or larger campus scale should consider Grinnell College or a public flagship university.