Reed College

Reed College is located 10 minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon, a vibrant metropolis of waterfalls, bridges, and parks of every size. 

For more than a century, the College has been a haven for a diverse group of scholars who wrestle with big ideas and explore ways to apply those ideas to the world around them. Learning is cherished at Reed; it isn’t outside the norm to talk about your passions and discoveries. If you’re ready to look beyond the superficial, to seek the truth and discover unlimited possibilities, you’re ready for Reed.

With a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and all classes taught by professors rather than teaching assistants, undergraduate education at Reed comes first. The conference method of learning brings together small groups of students to discuss great ideas, read primary texts by leading thinkers, and form opinions and defend them with skill and nuance. Guided by a thoughtfully constructed sequence of topics and architecture of ideas, students map an academic course that culminates in the senior thesis. They work alongside their professors, with whom they share a deep enthusiasm for scholarship, inquiry, and academic excellence.

Asking questions is a social activity for Reedies. You’ll overhear heated debates about Plato in the Sports Center and get caught up in string theory on the Quad. Whoever you are (even if you’re still deciding who that is), you’ll find that the Honor Principle supports differences and creates respect within the Reed community. Reed is a humanizing place of infinite subsets that offer you the opportunity to be yourself across all your interests. You’ll find your tribe in the classroom, exploring Reed Canyon, or hiking in the Cascade Mountains.

Four years of college can seem like a long time and paradoxically no time at all, but your time at Reed will leave an imprint on you that will extend throughout your life; once a Reedie, always a Reedie. Exposure to the primary disciplines of human knowledge prepares graduates to go on to fascinating professions in science, art, medicine, global politics, education, and the environment. Reed ranks among the top undergraduate institutions in the nation in the percentage of graduates going on to earn PhDs in Physics (ranked #3) and the life sciences (ranked #2).

Distinguished alumni include Wikipedia cofounder Larry Sanger ’91; neuroscientist Kenneth Koe ’45, inventor of Zoloft; environmental chemist and mountaineer Arlene Blum ’66; attorney William Hohengarten ’84, whose arguments persuaded the US Supreme Court to strike down Texas laws against sodomy; beat poet Gary Snyder ’51; best-selling author Barbara Ehrenreich ’63; and geneticist Pamela Ronald ’82, who developed a strain of drought-resistant rice. (Notable dropouts include Steve Jobs.)

Student life
While there is a robust outdoor program, a recently renovated sports center, and a long tradition of club sports at Reed, there are no varsity athletic teams. Campus social life is open to all, with no exclusive clubs or organizations; there are no fraternities or sororities at Reed. Some of our organizations include the Black and African Student Union, KRRC-FM (the campus radio station), a constantly growing comic book library, Oh For Christ’s Sake (Christian organization), Chabad (Jewish cultural organization), The Creative Review, the Feminist Student Union, and the Bike Co-op.

International Student Services
At Reed, the International Student Services (ISS) office provides resources and programs to help international students acclimate to life in the US and thrive at Reed. The office also facilitates each student’s ability to share their diverse culture with the rest of the College community. Major services and programs include:

Immigration advising and support
ISS helps F-1 and J-1 visa students with immigration regulations and related procedures, provides guidance on maintaining visa status, and helps students navigate work authorization post-graduation. ISS is the primary liaison between international students and the federal government and local agencies for immigration-related matters.

Interconnect Peer Mentor Program Reed’s InterConnect Program matches new international students with current Reed students and a cohort of their peers to develop community, ease the transition to Reed, and provide leadership opportunities.

Discover PDX
Once a month, ISS provides international students with an opportunity to explore off campus and see a new part of Portland or experience a unique side of US culture.

Summer Experience Award
The Summer Experience Award offers funding to students on F-1 visas so they can pursue unpaid summer internships.

Host Family Program
Reed’s Host Family Program is a nonresidential program designed to introduce international students to a local family who will welcome them to the Portland community, support their experience at Reed, and enjoy the opportunity for cultural exchange.