Haverford College Haverford College is a private , coeducation al liberal arts college located in Haverford , Pennsylvania , United States , a suburb of Philadelphia . All students of the College are undergraduate s , and nearly all reside on campus . The College was founded in 1833 by area members of the Orthodox Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends ( Quakers ) to ensure an education grounded in Quaker values for young Quaker men . Although the College no longer has a formal religious affiliation , the Quaker philosophy still influences campus life . Originally an all - male institution , Haverford began admitting female transfer students in the 1970s and became fully co - ed in 1980 . Currently , more than half of Haverford ' s students are women . For most of the 20th century , Haverford ' s total enrollment was kept below 300 , but the school went through two periods of expansion after the 1970s , and its current enrollment is 1 , 190 students . As of the 2012 - 2013 academic year , Haverford College ' s tuition is $ 43 , 310 ; room and board , $ 13 , 290 ; activity fee , $ 392 ; and orientation fee , $ 210 . This amounts to a total of $ 57 , 202 . Haverford is a member of the Tri - College Consortium , which allows students to register for courses at both Bryn Mawr College and Swarthmore College . The College enjoys an especially close relationship with Bryn Mawr College . It is also a member of the Quaker Consortium ( " Penn - Pal " ) which allows students to cross - register at the College of General Studies ( CGS ) and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania . The college was ranked 27th among all colleges and universities in the 2013 edition of Forbes ' " Top Colleges , " and 9th among national liberal arts colleges by the 2012 edition of " U . S . News and World Report " . A 2012 Forbes ranking on the colleges which produce the most entrepreneurs per capita placed Haverford first among liberal arts colleges ( followed by business - oriented Babson College , Harvey Mudd College , Swarthmore College , Claremont McKenna College , Amherst College , and Williams College ) and tenth overall ( between Yale and Princeton ) . Honor Code . In 1896 , the students and faculty of Haverford voted to adopt an Honor Code to govern academic affairs . Since 1963 , every student has been allowed to schedule his or her own final exams . Take - home examinations are also common at Haverford . These exams may include strict instructions such as time limits , prohibitions on using assigned texts or personal notes , and calculator usage . All students are bound to follow these instructions by the Code . Originally conceived as a code of academic honesty , the Honor Code had expanded by the 1970s to govern social interactions . The code does not list specific rules of behavior , but rather outlines a philosophy of trust , concern , and respect for others that students are expected to follow . When a student ( or other community member ) feels that another student has broken the Code , he or she is encouraged not to look the other way but rather to confront the possible offender and engage in a dialogue with him or her , before taking matters to an Honor Council which can help mediate the dispute . Ideally , many potential violations are worked out through dialogue ( mediated or not ) and common understanding . Student government officers administer the Code , and all academic matters are heard by student juries . More severe matters are addressed by administrators . Abstracts from cases heard by students and joint administrative - student panels are distributed to all students by several means , including as print - outs in mailboxes . The trial abstracts are made anonymous by the use of pseudonyms , which are often characters from entertainment or history . The student body convenes every semester in a plenary session with a 50 percent quorum . At these meetings , the Honor Code or Student Constitution can be amended , and at Spring Plenary the student body votes to put the Honor Code up for ratification ( now done electronically with 2 / 3 quorum ) . In addition to revisions of self - governance , the student body debates resolutions that get passed to the faculty and administration for approval and action . The Honor Code is touted by the Office of Admissions , and every student is required to sign a pledge agreeing to the Code prior to matriculation . Unlike Honor Codes at institutions such as Brigham Young University , which are imposed on the students by the administration , the Haverford Honor Code is entirely student - run . The Code originated with a body of students who felt it necessary , and current Haverford students administer and amend it every year . Academics . Academic Program . Haverford offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees among 31 majors in the natural sciences , social sciences and the humanities . All departments require a senior thesis , project or research for graduation , and many departments also have junior - level seminar or year - long project such as in biology ( superlab ) and chemistry ( superlab ) . The College also maintains a distribution requirement , spreading course work in all three areas of humanities , social sciences and natural sciences , in addition to major course works . Additional program and course offerings are available via the Quaker Consortium . In addition to majors and minors , Haverford offers concentrations in Africana studies , biochemistry , biophysics , computer science , East Asian studies , education , feminist and gender studies , health and society , Latin American and Iberian studies , mathematical economics , neural and behavioral sciences , and peace studies . Students may pursue pre - medical , pre - law or pre - business intentions through any major ; the College offers special advising by professionals in those fields . Music students enjoy close proximity to Philadelphia ' s music tradition : the Philadelphia Orchestra and The Curtis Institute of Music , where students can receive discounted concert tickets and take on extra instrument or voice lessons . The Sciences . Despite its relatively small size and academic strength in the humanities and arts , Haverford is also notable in the sciences . In the 1950s , Haverford was the first institution in America to teach modern laboratory biology ( molecular biology ) to undergraduates ; within the department of physics is the only National Academy of Sciences member to currently teach at a liberal arts college ; many current faculty also are recipients of national awards for undergraduate teaching such as the Lindback and NSF CAREER awards , American Physical Society Award for Research in an Undergraduate Institution , The Henry Dreyfus Teacher - Scholar Award , and The Bruce H . Mahan Memorial Teaching Award . Haverford graduates have also been eminent figures in their respective fields . Both physics and chemistry departments boast graduates who have been awarded the Nobel Prize . On two occasions since 1996 have Haverford physics students won the prestigious LeRoy Apker Award . Haverford does not maintain its own program in engineering , but students may elect to pursue the 4 + 1 engineering program in cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania . Under this program , the first of its kind , students spend four years at Haverford , then one year at Penn , and obtain a Bachelor ' s of Science from Haverford and a Master ' s in Engineering from Penn . Alternatively , students may enroll in the 3 / 2 liberal arts and engineering course of study . This option allows students to enroll in three years of liberal arts and science courses at Haverford and then two years of engineering courses at the California Institute of Technology , ultimately obtaining bachelor degrees from both institutions . Postgraduate placement . The National Science Foundation ranks Haverford # 7 among liberal arts colleges , and # 13 among all colleges and universities in the United States , for producing the greatest number of science and engineering students to pursue PhDs per capita many of whom continue their studies at top national universities including Harvard University , the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , the University of Chicago , the University of California , Berkeley , and Stanford University among others . Of these graduates , many also receive postgraduate research fellowships under NSF - GRF , Fulbright and Churchill scholarships . In a 2003 publication on the placement of recent graduates into " top " programs in business , law and medicine , The Wall Street Journal ranked Haverford among the top twenty colleges and universities in the United States . Campus . Haverford College is located on the Main Line about west of Philadelphia . The school is connected to center city Philadelphia by the Paoli / Thorndale Line commuter rail system and Norristown High Speed Line ( R100 ) . The northwest portion of the campus is located in Haverford Township in Delaware County , and the southwest part of the campus is located in Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County . The campus itself is situated is an affluent suburban neighborhood , adjacent to the Haverford School , the Merion Golf Club and the Merion Cricket Club , one of the oldest country clubs in the United States . Nearby attractions within walking distance include various food markets , grocery stores , fast food restaurants , and Suburban Square , which hosts retail stores , restaurants and a local farmer ' s market . Buildings . The College operates more than 50 academic , athletic , and residential buildings , which are mostly stone and reflect Quaker and colonial design principles . The most recent additions are the Marian E . Koshland Integrated Natural Science Center and the Douglas B . Gardner ' 83 Integrated Athletic Center ( colloquially referred to as the GIAC ) . Two dorms , by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects , began housing freshman and upperclassman in the fall of 2012 . Haverford ' s Magill Library boasts more than a half million of its own volumes and has access to nearly two million more through its unusual Tripod computerized catalog system , which integrates its library with those of neighboring Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore Colleges . In addition to Magill ' s main resources , the College houses a number of special collections including the Quaker Collection , the C . C . Morris 1904 Cricket Library , and numerous rare books and other treasures ; the College also maintains three smaller music , science , and astronomy libraries on campus . Planned additions in the future include renovating the now empty Ryan Gym ( since being replaced by the GIAC , it has been used as a mostly informal hang - out space ) to make space for a cafe , a large space suitable to house the college ' s sizable special collections , a technology commons , classrooms and study space as well as offices and performance space for the Huford Arts and Humanities Center . A second phase to the project will involve a replacement for Magill Library . Beyond that , the school hopes to build a new arts building . Renovations during the summer of 2012 added common space to the up - campus dorms . Recently the student - run Lunt Cafe was renovated to meet health and safety codes . Arboretum . The campus is a national arboretum , and the oldest collegiate arboretum in the United States . The year after the College ' s founding , the English landscape gardener William Carvill was hired to design the plan for the campus . Carvill developed a design to replace the tilled fields , woodlots and pastures , using trees to frame and complement open spaces . He bordered the lanes with alleés of trees and planted groups of trees in odd numbers . Carvill also constructed grape arbors and a serpentine walk , reflecting the English landscape tradition of Sir Humphrey Repton . Carvill ’ s mark is still evident today in the pastoral landscape which includes several original trees including a Swamp white oak , Quercus bicolor , and Bur oak , Quercus macrocarpa , on Founders Green . In 1901 , a group of students and alumni formed the Campus Club to help preserve the campus landscape after discovering Carvill ’ s original plan . Their work eventually led to the founding of the Haverford College Campus Arboretum Association ( now the Haverford College Arboretum Association ) in 1974 , which continues to perpetuate Carvill ’ s original design . To date , the arboretum ' s contain a nature trail , a pinetum with 300 different conifers , a duck pond , historic trees of diverse species , sculpture , as well as flower and Asian gardens . Housing . Roughly 99 % of the student body resides on campus , where housing options include apartments , themed houses and traditional dormitories . The minute fraction who choose to seek other accommodations do so nearby in neighboring townships . Approximately 75 % of faculty also reside on campus , which is unusually high for liberal arts colleges . Various housing and room arrangements exist , including suites of singles , doubles , and triples . Housing is liberal and many non - freshman suites are co - ed . In 2000 , at the urging of Haverford ’ s inQUEERy , co - ed roommate options were officially permitted for the first time , having occurred without official sanction since 1974 . Student life . Activities available at Haverford range from a cappella singing group performances , sponsored music events , college radio , bi - college news and fashion publications , an academic journal , an annual yearbook , to multiple community service groups . Haverford has no fraternities or sororities , but Drinker House is considered to be the closest resemblance to one on campus . In 2002 , a group of students founded a computing club called FIG ( a recursive acronym for FIG Is Good ) . Services provided by FIG include the College ' s student portal " Go ! " , server space for students , and an online discussion forum called the Go ! Boards . Amid controversy , the boards have become a major venue for discussion on campus . The College regularly sponsors events , such as a " Screw - Your - Roommate " Dance , where roommates set each other up on blind dates , formal and informal dances , and smaller adventures , such as tag or sardines in the sciences center . Fords Against Boredom ( FAB ) is a school - funded student group that began in 1993 , and plans and sponsors free non - alcoholic events on campus and in Philadelphia . FAB has become known for its traditional events such as Ben & Jerry ’ s Bingo , Bowling Night , Midnight Cheese Steak Run , FAB Quizzo , and trips to sporting events and the many arts and theatre venues in Philadelphia , the FAB Film Series ( the screening of a film ' s pre - DVD release every other weekend ) and other unorthodox events such as " Love Shack : Valentines Ginger Bread House building " and " Iron Chef : Dining Center " . Additionally , FAB co - sponsors events with other student groups and is open to ideas and proposals . Of the nation ' s 357 " best " colleges , the Princeton Review ranks Haverford as # 6 for Best Overall Undergraduate Experience . In addition , Haverford , unlike many of its peers , is located within easy travel of a large metropolitan center and the opportunities that Philadelphia offers . Princeton Review placed Haverford on several other lists for the 2007 year . On the list for " Best Overall Academic Experience for Undergraduates , " Haverford ranks # 8 ; " School Runs Like Butter , " # 17 ; " The Toughest to Get Into , " # 20 ; " Best Quality Of Life , " # 14 ; " Happiest Students , " # 16 . Music . A cappella is a widely popular student activity at Haverford College . The College ' s own groups include the Haverford College Humtones , The Oxford Blues , The Mainliners , The Outskirts , and the Ford S - Chords . Two a cappella groups shared within the bi - co are the Looney Tunes and Counterpoint . A single group shared between Haverford , Bryn Mawr College , and Swarthmore College is Chaverim . In total , including shared a cappella groups , Haverford is believed to maintain a world record for the number of a cappella groups per capita . More formal music organizations also exist within the bi - college consortium . Chamber Singers is a mixed choir of 30 voices from Haverford and Bryn Mawr who perform challenging repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to the present day in a variety of languages and styles . Chorale is a Wednesday night institution in bi - college life . A symphonic choir of 150 singers , the Chorale performs a major work with an orchestra each semester . Additionally , free music events are often presented in the basement of the student dorm " Lunt " , adjacent to the Lunt Café , through the campus organization the Federation of United Concert Series , showcasing genres including funk , rock , blues , and jazz . Student musicians have also created a vibrant musical community on campus , forming a number of bands with eclectic styles . Haverford boasts practice facilities , a recording studio , and a record label , Black Squirrel Records , which releases compilation albums that feature Haverford student bands . Students also run their own college radio station , WHRC Radio , which broadcasts streaming audio . Journalism . Student publications include the Bi - College News , a newspaper in collaboration with students at Bryn Mawr College that serves both campuses ; The Clerk , an independent , online newspaper ; Feathers & Fur , a fashion magazine also in collaboration with students at Bryn Mawr College ; The Haverford Review , a student literary magazine ; Without a ( Noun ) , the Haverford satire / humor magazine ; the Haverford Journal , an academic journal ; and The Record , the student yearbook . Improvisation . Haverford is home to two satirical improvisation groups which hold free shows throughout the year : The Throng was founded in 2000 among Haverford students and focuses on exclusively on long - form improvisation , creating its own brand of comedy in the process . The Throng has performed with such professional groups as Dillinger and The Shoves at the UCB Theatre in New York , as well as the Rare Bird Show in Philadelphia . Lighted Fools was founded officially in 1991 within the bi - college and claims to focus on the " satirical , weird , and zany . " This group is also involved in the burgeoning Philadelphia improvisation scene , and has performed at the Dirty South Improv Festival , Skidmore College Comedy Festival , Oberlin College Improv Conference , Delaware Improv and Sketch O ' Festival , and the UMass Amherst Improv Festival , as well as nationwide in New York at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater , Magnet Theater , and in Chicago City Limits at the Improv Olympic , and in Los Angeles at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater . James House . James House was begun as a student initiative in 2005 whose goal was to create a space in the former security building located between Gummere , Parker House and Woodside that could be used entirely by students to make art on their own time . To date , the space is filled with comfy furniture , tons of art supplies , and a continually rotating set of murals on the walls . Each semester several student - led workshops are held on arts and crafts projects ranging from tie - dye to scrapbooking to chip carving . James House also generally holds one or two arts - themed parties a semester . James House is headed by a board of students , which maintains the house and hosts workshops and parties . It is a designated student space and is accessible 24 - hours a day , seven days a week . Community Service . Many students are involved in volunteering , either on their own or through Haverford ' s volunteer coordination organization , Eighth Dimension . Volunteer opportunities are especially plentiful due to Haverford ' s proximity to Philadelphia . Activism is also a part of student life , and groups such as the Sexuality and Gender Alliance ( SAGA ) , Students Toward a New Democracy ( STAND ) , Amnesty International , College Republicans , and College Democrats have a presence on campus . The student body tends to be politically liberal , but is not without its vocal conservative elements . High value is placed in listening to many sides without disrespect or vitriol , in spirit with the Honor Code . Athletics . Haverford College competes at the NCAA Division III level in the Centennial Conference and has a rich history in collegiate athletics : Haverford boasts the only varsity cricket team in the United States ; its men ' s and women ' s track and field and cross country teams are perennial powerhouses in their division , with men ' s cross country winning the 2010 Cross Country Division III National Championships ; its soccer team is the nation ' s oldest and won the first intercollegiate soccer match in 1905 against Harvard College ; its fencing team has competed since the early 1930s and is a member of both the Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association ( MACFA ) and the National Intercollegiate Women ' s Fencing Association ( NIWFA ) .