Reed provides one of the nation's most intellectually rigorous undergraduate experiences, with a highly structured academic program balancing broad distribution requirements and in-depth study in a chosen academic discipline.
Nestled in a residential section of Portland, Oregon, Reed College enrolls nearly 1,400 undergraduates each year from all over the world. Considered one of the most intellectual colleges in the country since its launch in 1911, Reed is dedicated to the intrinsic value of learning and governed by the highest standards of scholarly practice, critical thought, and creativity.
Graduates have gone on to become innovators and leaders in all walks of life, including in the arts and sciences, in medicine and global politics, and in education and the environment. Notable alumni include poets Gary Snyder, Philip Whalen, and Mary Barnard; chef James Beard; Tektronix founder Howard Vollum; Apple founder Steve Jobs; and Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger. Reed has produced thirty-one Rhodes Scholars, the second-highest number of any American liberal arts college, as well as over eighty Fulbright recipients and three MacArthur Fellows (Genius Awards).
Students pursue the bachelor of arts degree in 40 majors and programs. The curriculum includes a yearlong humanities course, broad distribution requirements, and a senior thesis. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures students have meaningful engagement with their professors; small classes allow faculty members to mentor students and engage with them in individual discussions. Reed also offers a graduate program leading to a master of arts degree in liberal studies (MALS). Reed students share an unparalleled commitment to a genuine learning community and an openhearted understanding that mutual respect and dialogue between people with different perspectives, values, and backgrounds enhances the college experience. Named by Princeton Review in 2014 as the number one college in the United States for Best Classroom Experience, Reed students also laud their time at Reed for an atmosphere in which everyone is passionate about something.
