Franklin & Marshall College

Franklin & Marshall College is a residential liberal arts college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It aspires to instill in young people of high promise and diverse backgrounds a genuine and enduring love for learning; to teach them to read, write and think critically; to instill in them the capacity for both independent and collaborative action; and to educate them to explore and understand the natural, social and cultural worlds in which they live.

In so doing, the College seeks to foster in its students qualities of intellect, creativity and character, that they may live fulfilling lives and contribute meaningfully to their occupations, their communities and their world.

The College’s roots go back to Franklin College, which was founded in 1787 with a contribution of 200 English pounds from inventor, writer and statesman Benjamin Franklin. Classes began on July 16, 1787, with instruction in both English and German, making Franklin College the first bilingual college in the country. It also was the nation’s first coeducational institution.

Marshall College, named after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, was founded in 1836 in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, under the sponsorship of the German Reformed Church. In 1853, Marshall College moved to Lancaster and merged with Franklin College to form Franklin & Marshall.