Lancaster
Lancaster Is One of the Best Places to Live In 2024
Money.com featured F&M's home city of Lancaster as one of the best places to live in the U.S. in 2024. See why they said Lancaster "combines many of the draws of a big city but with the charm (and cost of living) of a small town."Read More »
One of WalletHub's Best Small Cities in America
Personal finance expert WalletHub compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities based on 45 key indicators of livability — and Lancaster is recognized as one of its Best Small Cities in America.Read More »
A Historical City with an Eye on the Future
Lancaster is a lively city of nearly 60,000 residents with a rich history and a thriving downtown. Vibrant social and cultural experiences a short distance from campus give you a chance to explore, have fun, and build connections, while our educational partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations throughout Lancaster help you take what you’re learning out of the classroom and into the community.
Local Community, Global Culture
Lancaster is a global village with a vibrant mix of cultures. Students in the School District of Lancaster speak more than 30 languages, reflective of the many nationalities represented within the city. Throughout the year, local organizations host cultural celebrations in downtown Lancaster.
This rich off-campus experience compliments the broad diversity on F&M’s campus, where hundreds of student organizations — including ethnic and lifestyle clubs, political advocacy groups, religious organizations, service groups, and other special interests clubs — open their doors to any student interested in learning about new cultures and customs.
A Lively Arts Scene
Immerse yourself in Lancaster’s arts scene with a trip to Gallery Row, a three-block cluster of art galleries less than two miles from campus, or catch a show at one of Lancaster’s theatre and music venues. As you explore, be sure to keep an eye out for Lancaster's public art installations and murals, several of which were created by F&M alumni and staff artists.
“I love how Lancaster has evolved. It’s exciting to see so many murals pop up, more access to the arts, more restaurants and cafes.”
— Salina Almanzar ’13
More to Explore
No matter where you turn, Lancaster is full of exciting events and opportunities to explore during your time at F&M and is an incredible place to call home.
- Grab a bite from one of Lancaster’s more than 100 restaurants, cafes and eateries featuring food from around the world. Many restaurants source from nearby farms to create fresh farm-to-table dishes.
- Make a trip to Central Market, built in 1730 and recognized as the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the U.S.
- Check out Lancaster’s First Fridays, when 90-plus galleries, museums, shops and restaurants extend their hours into the evening.
- Cheer on the Lancaster Stormers at Penn Medicine Park, a 10-minute walk from campus.
- Visit the Fulton Theatre House, a National Historic Landmark that has hosted some of the brightest stars of theatre, music, and film, including Mark Twain, Lionel Barrymore, Louis Armstrong, W.C. Fields, and Lancaster’s own Jonathan Groff.
“It is safe to say that my time at F&M would not have been the same without the city of Lancaster.”
"Lancaster has provided me with some incredible opportunities and cultural entertainment. It is so nice to have the city right next to the college.”
— Lara Gillingham ’23
To shape the world, start right where you are. Our home city of Lancaster is not only
an active urban hub, but also an integral educational partner teeming with opportunities
to learn, serve, and engage with the local community.Alumni Spotlight
“I absolutely love Lancaster.”
Samuel Ossa Rodriguez ’24 calls Pereira, Colombia, and Lancaster City home, illustrating
how F&M students don’t simply live in Lancaster — they are woven into the fabric of
our surrounding community.
“I absolutely love Lancaster,” Ossa Rodriguez said. “I cannot recommend this enough:
Enjoy life outside campus as much as inside it. It’s comforting to stay on campus
and not go into the city. But the efforts to get out and explore downtown are undeniably
worth it.”
Now Ossa Rodriguez is helping the next generation of students unlock their potential
as a college adviser at J.P. McCaskey High School, his alma mater located in Lancaster,
just miles from F&M.
Read More »Alumni Spotlight
Lily Finds a Rose: Lily Vining ’24 Shares How Lancaster Became Home
After three years at F&M, Lily Vining ’24 set her mind to embrace the experience of
“Lancaster local.” She developed a bucket list to explore Lancaster, which is nicknamed
the “Red Rose City,” including trying new restaurants, seeking live music, visiting
new coffee shops and bookstores, and more.
“My bucket list grew more quickly than I could eat, dance, and hike my way through
it,” Vining said. “But in the process, I met incredible people, explored countless
new destinations, and developed a deeper sense of belonging in F&M’s home city.”
(Illustration by Robert Nuebecker)
Read More »Living & Learning in Lancaster
Plan Your Visit
Take Your First Look at Campus
Step on campus and find your home. Visiting F&M is the best way to get a feel for day-to-day life on campus and to visualize yourself as a member of our curious, collaborative and close-knit community.
Getting to Campus
Lancaster’s location offers easy access to major metropolitan areas. With an Amtrak train station just two miles from campus, you can ride the rails toward an exciting day in New York City or Philadelphia with your friends. Or, hop on the highway and reach major cities and airports in just a couple of hours.
Where to Stay and Dine
Stay at hotels near campus and grab a bite from one of Lancaster’s more than 100 restaurants, cafes and eateries, featuring food from around the world! Explore our recommendations, including our hotel and bed and breakfast partners that offer a special rate for F&M visitors.
Explore F&M Students' Favorite Spots in Lancaster
Are you ready to see for yourself why Lancaster is such a great place to live and learn? Step off campus, explore some of these cherished spots, and start imagining your life as a Diplomat in the city that could be your new home away from home.
F&M in Lancaster
September 29, 2025
Students Make Waves as Susquehanna River Watchdogs
Roselyn Ovalles ’26 and Grace Uwezukwe ’26 spent the summer monitoring the Susquehanna River and its many local tributaries as interns with the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association.
September 26, 2025
Experience Lancaster: A Historical City with an Eye on the Future
Are you ready to see why Lancaster is such a great place to live and learn? While you’re here for a Fall Open House, we encourage you to step off campus, explore Lancaster, and start imagining your life as a Diplomat in the city that could be your new home away from home.
September 9, 2025
Samuel Ossa Rodriguez ’24 Guides Next Generation of Students
F&M opened the door to a career in education for Samuel Ossa Rodriguez ’24. Now, he helps the next generation of students unlock their potential as a college adviser at nearby J.P. McCaskey High School.