Reed College

Reed College

(Reed)

Reed College is a private liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon, renowned for its exceptional academic rigor and intellectual culture. Reed is one of only a handful of liberal arts colleges with a nuclear research reactor, operated entirely by undergraduate students. Every student must complete a yearlong senior thesis, and the college produces one of the highest per-capita rates of future Ph.D. holders in the nation.

Notable Alumni

Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple)Larry Sanger (co-founder of Wikipedia)Gary Snyder (Pulitzer Prize-winning poet)

At a Glance

Acceptance Rate
41%
SAT (Optional)
1310–1490
Avg GPA
4.00
Enrollment
1.5K
Setting
Urban
Founded
1908

Cost

Tuition$64K
Room & Board$16K
Est. Annual Total$80K

Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.

Top Programs & National Ranking

Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.

Highlights

Nuclear reactor on campus
Intellectual rigor culture
Senior thesis required

Safety

Campus SafetySafe

Reed has Community Safety Officers on duty 24/7 who are well-regarded by students. Most incidents are non-violent; elevated numbers partly reflect Reed's rigorous reporting culture.

Neighborhood SafetySafe

Reed is located in Eastmoreland, a safe and leafy residential area of southeast Portland. Occasional bike theft and property crime occur, but violent crime is uncommon.

Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.

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