Acceptance Rate
14%
Avg. SAT
1560
75th percentile
“Wellesley shapes fiercely intelligent women into global leaders on a lakeside campus where collaboration trumps competition, just minutes from Boston.”
Wellesley, MA
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
You step onto Wellesley's 500-acre lakeside paradise in suburban Wellesley, Massachusetts, founded in 1875 by millionaire Henry Fowle Durant, who poured his fortune into this women's college during an economic panic, vowing buildings would rise 'rain or shine.' This legacy infuses the place with unshakeable grit and a commitment to educating women who lead without apology—think driven overachievers who crave deep discussions, mentorship from professors who know your name, and a supportive 'sisterhood' vibe that feels like an exclusive club for future trailblazers. The school's personality shines through in its preppy polish mixed with progressive edge, but tradeoffs loom: the all-women undergrad environment energizes some while claustrophobically insular for others, and the quiet suburb (20 minutes from Boston by train) trades urban pulse for reflective walks around Lake Waban.
Photo Gallery
+35
+27
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Wellesley's intimate seminars (that golden 7:1 student-faculty ratio means your econ prof remembers your thesis idea from last week), you dive into discussion-driven classes where ideas fly and collaboration reigns—perfect if you thrive on dissecting texts or lab hypotheses with peers who match your intensity. Strengths pulse in neuroscience (one of the nation's top feeders to med school), economics (heavy Wall Street pipeline), and computer science (bolstered by cross-registration at nearby MIT, Babson, and Brandeis), plus interdisciplinary gems like the Knapp Fellowship sending juniors on funded global research. Yet, with no graduate students, research opps skew undergrad-heavy but lack the massive labs of research universities; you gain personalized attention but miss the buzz of co-ed grad seminars.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
2,407 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
30%
Black / African American
8%
Hispanic / Latino
15%
Asian
23%
Other / Multi-racial
23%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Wellesley, MA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Your typical week pulses with sunrise runs around Lake Waban, packed classes, club meetings (from Model UN to the Fix-It club for hands-on repairs), and Thursday 'parietals'—dorm parties till 2 a.m. where you blast music and host guys from nearby schools. Traditions like hoop-rolling (juniors race hoops around campus to 'predict' post-grad marriage timing) and the raucous Spring Weekend festival knit the all-residential community tight, fostering lifelong bonds in 21 quirky dorms governed by student councils. The vibe skews ambitious and affectionate, with a cappella groups dominating talent shows and shuttles whisking you to Boston for Celtics games or clubbing; challenges include the single-sex social scene feeling limited (weekend travel mandatory for dating variety) and New England winters that bury paths in snow, testing your resolve.
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
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
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
$5,206
$30K – $48K
$5,759
$48K – $75K
$10,758
$75K – $110K
$28,001
$110K+
$51,814
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
96%
4 Years Graduation Rate
84%
6 Years Graduation Rate
92%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$84,803
96% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Wellesley College and return in the fall. 84% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 92% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
84%
4-6 years
8%
Non-grad
8%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$61,584
Acceptance
14%
Undergrads
2,407
4-Year Grad Rate
84%
Endowment
$2.2B
Wellesley, MA 02481-8203