Earlham College (EC)

Established in 1847, Earlham College is a selective, private liberal arts college. With its emphasis on experiential learning and profound inquiry, an Earlham education is excellent preparation not just for a first job, but a career and a lifetime of rewarding involvement.

Earlham has shaped its curriculum through an initiative called EPIC (Earlham Plan for Integrative Collaboration) in order to help its students connect their academic and personal passions with career preparation and opportunities. EPIC offers students multidisciplinary experiences that combine guided research opportunities, international education, and internships as well as academic centers devoted to entrepreneurship, global health, and social justice.

Among its distinctions, Earlham is committed to funding an internship, research experience, or community-based project for every student. Called the EPIC Advantage, the program offers these funded experiences to help students connect high-impact experiences with their traditional course work and even extracurricular activities.

Founded by Quakers, Earlham College has prepared students to contribute to the social good since its inception. Earlham embraces cultural and individual differences alike and offers unparalleled opportunities for leadership, friendship, and community.

Earlham sponsors 20 NCAA Division III sports teams; most compete in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The College also sponsors a hunt seat equestrian team, an Ultimate (Frisbee) team that competes on the club level, and numerous recreational sports.

Earlham is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

With a long and varied list of active, student-led organizations to choose from, Earlham students have every chance to get involved outside of the classroom. Some of the more popular organizations include dance teams, Frisbee golf, Ultimate, cultural clubs, and political clubs. In addition, there are numerous co-ops on campus, including the Barn Co-op, home to Earlham's equestrian team horses and other horses boarded by students.

Besides the 20 varsity sports the College sponsors, there are numerous club teams and opportunities to participate in intramural sports. For those desiring a workout, Earlham has extensive wellness facilities, including a field house, swimming pool, weight room, climbing wall, exercise classes, and a walking track.

The activity calendar at Earlham is packed with speakers, theatre productions, art exhibits and much more. The campus also kicks off each school year with Sunsplash, an annual festival that includes live music from major bands, and wraps up each year with SpringFest, an outdoor event with inflatable games and other excuses to let loose.

Student Body

Earlham is a residential college of about 1,100 students. A global perspective comes naturally to the campus community. Earlham is ranked fifth by U.S. News & World Report among liberal arts colleges in the U.S. for the percentage of international students enrolled. With such a variety of students, campus life at Earlham is both lively and welcoming.

Besides traditional residence halls, Earlham has friendship and theme housing for those who share like interests. Yet one kind of housing isn't found at Earlham--sororities and fraternities. Earlham's inclusive community has never had them.

Despite being a small school, Earlham manages to yield a "diverse population." Indeed, you can find students "from all over the world" who enrich the campus with their "interesting stories and backgrounds." Undergrads seem to mesh well as everyone treats each other "with kindness and compassion." Moreover, many students here are "concerned about social issues and justice" and a large number "seem to be inclined to left-wing policies." Or, as another undergrad puts it, "Earlham is hippies. Earlham is bare feet and climbing trees. Earlhamites are activists. They are earth lovers, peace lovers, and lovers of learning." Therefore, it's not too shocking to learn that many students also describe their peers as "collaborative and encouraging" because of the "close-knit bonds [they have] to the people around them." They "care a lot about [their] community" and "make sure everyone feels welcomed." As one undergrad concludes, "After being on campus for so long, it is easy to realize that everyone here is weird in their own ways, and the great part is that the community is very accepting and less judgmental than most other places."

Many undergrads proudly proclaim that the "possibilities are endless" at Earlham when it comes to campus activities. Indeed, it's "a wonderful environment for passionate and selfdriven students" who thrive on having "back-to-back commitments." As one enthusiastic individual explains, "I run a club, direct and act in plays, sing in the choir, go to the gym, and still take nineteen credits." It's hard to resist the many school-sponsored activities "such as concerts, bowling, movie night, [and] roller skating." Another popular activity is Dance Alloy, which is a "bi-yearly student choreographed dance performance" that many students join and "spend multiple nights a week practicing and preparing" to get just right. Moreover, "every other Friday night there is an open mic event...[where] everyone is welcome to perform." And when the weekend fully rolls around, you can "usually [find some] house parties or people just [hanging] out with their friends." Those hang-out sessions can include "talking about literature, playing cards, [or having] occasional nights of drinking and video games." And a good number simply love exploring the "large chunk of undeveloped woods behind [the] campus."

The Center for Global and Career Education is a great resource, offering coaching, résumé guidance, and networking. And its Epic Advantage Internship Program provides all students with funding for a meaningful internship, research opportunity, or career-oriented experience, either during the summer or the academic year. “There are … a lot of opportunities for research, internships, and travel,” as well as “lots of encouragement for [study] abroad programs.” Earlham is “highly regarded,” and the college “networks with a number of large programs and universities around the country and world.” Further support is provided through Career Communities, which align students with mentors (faculty and alumni), advisers, and job and internship opportunities related to their interests. Payscale.com reports that 61% of Earlham graduates find a great deal of meaning in their job, and earn a median starting salary of $60,400.