Acceptance Rate
36%
Avg. SAT
1530
75th percentile
“Nestled in Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley, Mount Holyoke empowers fiercely independent women through rigorous academics and unbreakable sisterhood in America's oldest women's college.”
South Hadley, MA
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
You step onto Mount Holyoke's verdant campus knowing you've entered hallowed ground: Mary Lyon founded it in 1837 after tirelessly soliciting donations from skeptical New England farmers, creating the nation's first permanently organized institution dedicated to women's higher education. As the sole women's college in the Five College Consortium—sharing resources with Amherst, Smith, UMass Amherst, and Hampshire—you gain access to a vast intellectual playground while rooted in an environment that amplifies female voices. The school's personality radiates quiet confidence and intellectual fire, attracting students who crave deep discussions over superficial socializing, those who lead Model UN teams or launch startups rather than chase frat parties. South Hadley's leafy suburb offers serene hikes in the Holyoke Range and apple-picking orchards, but trade that for isolation—it's 90 minutes from Boston, with harsh winters that test your resolve and a social scene that leans heavily on consortium shuttles for co-ed mingling.
Photo Gallery
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Mount Holyoke's classrooms, you'll debate ethics with professors who remember your name—thanks to a 9:1 student-faculty ratio that dwarfs many peers (more intimate than 90% of liberal arts colleges)—and dive into hands-on research from day one, whether dissecting neural pathways in the top-tier neuroscience lab or modeling climate impacts in environmental studies. Standouts include the interdisciplinary architecture major (rare for women's colleges) and the globally focused international relations program, where you'll analyze U.S.-China tensions alongside peers from 50 countries. The intellectual culture buzzes with curiosity, fueled by the Five Colleges' cross-registration that lets you snag Amherst's econ seminars without leaving the valley, though the all-women undergrad focus means fewer male perspectives in core discussions, and the small size limits niche electives compared to bigger Ivies.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
2,178 undergrad • 97 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
51%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
9%
Asian
7%
Other / Multi-racial
27%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
South Hadley, MA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Your typical week pulses with empowerment: Monday seminars bleed into Tuesday club meetings (pick from ultimate frisbee to the Black Student Union), Friday dance rehearsals at the oldest college dance program in the U.S., and spontaneous weekend road trips to Northampton's indie shops or Smith parties via free shuttle. Traditions knit you tight—like Mountain Day, a surprise fall holiday heralding hikes and picnics announced by clanging bells, or the candlelit Junior Show where you roast faculty in skits. Residential life thrives in cozy quads where all undergrads live on-campus all four years, fostering lifelong bonds, but the women's-only undergrad vibe suits introverted achievers over extroverted partiers; social dynamics skew earnest and activist, with cold snaps confining you indoors and limited on-campus nightlife pushing you to consortium events.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$7,687
$30K – $48K
$11,140
$48K – $75K
$12,235
$75K – $110K
$20,456
$110K+
$30,375
Apply for Financial Aid
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
89%
4 Years Graduation Rate
80%
6 Years Graduation Rate
84%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$58,418
89% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Mount Holyoke College and return in the fall. 80% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 84% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
80%
4-5 years
4%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
15%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$58,280
Acceptance
36%
Undergrads
2,178
4-Year Grad Rate
80%
Endowment
$921M
South Hadley, MA 01075-1489