From LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)
Franklin & Marshall College announced it will admit Pennsylvania students tuition free or at a capped tuition rate for households earning up to $150,000 annually, beginning this admissions cycle.
The cost of tuition for the Lancaster private college for the 2025-26 school year is $72,950. A standard double room cost $9,800 per year and the college’s all access meal plans is an additional $6,910 per year, according to the college’s website.
Through the college’s newly launched Commonwealth Commitment, students from households earning $75,000 or less will be able to attend F&M tuition free, while those from families earning $75,000 to $150,000 will be charged a tuition rate equal to Penn State University’s in-state tuition.
For the 2025-26 school year, Penn State University Park tuition is $20,468 for Pennsylvania freshman and sophomore students.
F&M families earning above $150,000 a year will receive financial aid packages that meet the household’s “determined need,” according to the college’s announcement Monday.
“While many of our students end up paying less to attend F&M than they would at a public university, they don’t learn this until after admission. Our Commonwealth Commitment makes that value clear from the start, showing families that F&M is an affordable option — and an exceptional investment," F&M Vice President for Enrollment Management M. Leslie Davidson said in an email statement Monday.
The college’s need-based aid supports 65% of its 1,852 enrolled students, including international students who make up 17% of the student body. The average debt after graduation for F&M’s class of 2023 was $27,720, according to the college’s website.
