Haverford College offers a BA in Psychology with required coursework in social psychology, biological psychology, and cognition, plus a research methods component. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is located eight miles from Philadelphia, with cross-registration available at Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and Penn.
Haverford College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1835, located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, eight miles from Philadelphia. The college enrolls approximately 1,400 undergraduate students and operates under a student-run Honor Code that governs academic integrity across all courses and exams. Through consortium agreements, students can cross-register for courses at Bryn Mawr College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Haverford College Accreditation Details
Haverford College holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Regional accreditation confirms that Haverford meets the commission’s standards for academic quality, which determines federal financial aid eligibility and the transferability of credits to other institutions.
Haverford College Application Requirements
First-year applicants must submit the Common Application with a personal statement and the Haverford supplement, which includes two short essays — one on a topic of intellectual curiosity and how Haverford’s environment would support it, and one on community values and how the college’s Honor Code resonates. Haverford adopted a permanent test-optional policy in 2022; SAT and ACT scores are considered if submitted, but are not required. Supporting materials include a school report with the most recent transcript, a school profile, a counselor report, and two teacher evaluations.
Transfer applicants complete the Common Application with a personal statement and the Haverford Common Application Writing Supplement. ACT or SAT scores are optional for transfers who did not take those exams before their initial college enrollment. Required materials include a transfer college report, transcripts from all prior institutions, and two faculty recommendations. Transfer applicants must have completed at least one full year of full-time study elsewhere and plan to enroll full-time at Haverford for a minimum of two years. Haverford does not offer graduate degrees and does not admit applicants who have already earned a bachelor’s degree.
Haverford College Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time tuition at Haverford is $73,030 per year (2024–25). Approximately 44 percent of students receive need-based financial aid, with an average grant award of approximately $65,000–$70,000. Haverford meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, including transfers and international students, and awards aid through a need-based formula. To apply, students complete the CSS Profile (submitted to the College Board) and the FAFSA. For current tuition and aid figures, see Haverford’s cost of attendance page.
Psychology Programs at Haverford College
Psychology
Haverford’s BA in Psychology focuses on scientific approaches to understanding human behavior. The program covers how biological, cognitive, social, and cultural factors influence individuals and groups, and trains students to apply the research methods used to study those influences.
To complete the major, students take one semester each of introductory psychology and Research Methods and Statistics. The methods course covers research design, statistical principles, and hands-on lab work, putting quantitative techniques into practice. Beyond those core requirements, students complete six additional psychology courses covering two breadth areas: Group A and Group B. At least one of those six must be a full-credit 300-level seminar. Two laboratory courses and a senior thesis project are also required. Full details on which courses satisfy each breadth area are in the department’s Psychology Student Guidebook.
Courses required for the major include, but are not limited to:
- Foundations of Psychology
- Research Methods and Statistics
- Cognition
- Developmental Psychology
- Personality Psychology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
- Cultural Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
- Applied Psychology
- Asian American Psychology
- The Psychology of Stereotyping and Prejudice
- Language and Thought
- Neuropsychology Seminar
- Laboratory in Personality Psychology
- Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience
For a broader look at what classes psychology majors typically take, see our guide to undergraduate psychology coursework. Psychology courses at Haverford are offered on campus. Students cross-registering at Bryn Mawr or Swarthmore should confirm with an academic advisor that any courses from those institutions satisfy Haverford’s distribution requirements before registering.
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