Head-to-head comparison
Reed College vs. University of Richmond
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Reed or Richmond harder to get into?
Richmond is harder to get into than Reed. Richmond's 22.2% acceptance rate is lower than Reed's 24.6%.
Which is cheaper, Reed or Richmond?
Richmond costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Richmond's average net price is $31,309 vs $33,013 at Reed.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
Richmond graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $62,927 at Reed and $76,178 at Richmond.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Reed | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 24.6% | 22.2% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1290–1520 | 1410–1530 |
| ACT mid-50% | 30–34 | 33–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $86,376 | $80,961 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $33,013 | $31,309 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,320 | 2,980 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 71.5% | 85.2% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $62,927 | $76,178 |
| Setting | Portland, OR | Richmond, Virginia |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
Richmond is modestly harder to get into. The 2.4-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.
Net cost is essentially the same at both schools after grants and scholarships, despite different sticker prices. Both schools meet most demonstrated need for in-range income brackets.
Richmond graduates earn $13,251 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Reed grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.
Richmond is substantially larger with 2,980 undergrads vs 1,320 at Reed. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.
Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Reed is in Portland, OR; Richmond is in Richmond, Virginia. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.
Richmond's graduation rate is meaningfully higher (85.2% vs 71.5% 6-year completion). Graduation gaps at this level usually reflect support-system differences, financial aid adequacy, or degree-flexibility — worth verifying with each school's first-year retention and major-change policies.
Student Body Composition
The two schools have different student body compositions. Reed is 58.6% women, 8.4% international, and 8.1% Asian-American. Richmond is 54.1% women, 10.7% international, and 6.2% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Reed | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 58.6% | 54.1% |
| International | 8.4% | 10.7% |
| White | 58.3% | 61.9% |
| Asian | 8.1% | 6.2% |
| Hispanic | 12.3% | 9.2% |
| Black | 1.7% | 6.5% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Reed vs. Richmond?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Reed if
- Your odds are realistic at Reed (slightly easier admit)
- the senior thesis and Hum 110
Pick Richmond if
- Net price matters: Richmond costs $1,704 less per year on average
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($76,178 vs $62,927)
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- the Robins School of Business
Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.
Full School Pages
For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:
Full profile
Reed College
24.6% accept · Portland, OR
Full profile
University of Richmond
22.2% accept · Richmond, Virginia
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
- Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.