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Wellesley , MA
Wellesley College, founded in 1870, is a private women's liberal arts college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Renowned for its academic excellence and commitment to empowering women, Wellesley has consistently been ranked as one of the top women's colleges in the United States. The college offers over 50 majors and minors across various fields of study, including humanities, social sciences, sciences, and pre-professional programs.
One of the defining features of Wellesley College is its rigorous academic environment. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of 17, students benefit from close interactions with their professors and a personalized educational experience. The college emphasizes critical thinking, research, and problem-solving skills, ensuring that students are well-equipped for future careers or further education.
Beyond academic pursuits, Wellesley College provides numerous opportunities for personal and leadership development. The campus is home to a vibrant community, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among the students. The college offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including more than 150 student-run organizations, club sports, and cultural groups. Additionally, the high-powered alumnae network provides valuable connections and mentorship opportunities for students as they move forward in their careers.
Overall, Wellesley College offers a premier liberal arts education for women, nurturing holistic growth and empowering students to become leaders in their fields of choice. Its commitment to academic excellence, combined with a supportive community, creates an environment where women can thrive academically, personally, and professionally. Wellesley College continues to prepare women for impactful and meaningful contributions to society, inspiring them to make a difference in their chosen paths.
Located in Wellesley, MA and set in a suburban environment, Wellesley College is a private four-year college. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 14%. The freshman retention rate at Wellesley College is 96.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 92%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 8. The transfer application deadline is March 1.
Here are some recent data on important things to consider about Wellesley College.
Quick Facts
2,407
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$69,800
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
92%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Read on to find out some vital facts about admission policy and requirements at Wellesley College.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,224 in 2025. Wellesley College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an outstanding educational experience.
Test Scores
43% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 18% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 92.74% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 4.84% between 1,200 and 1,399, 2.02% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 0.4% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 94.34 and 5.66 between 24-29.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 8. If you are thinking about applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Wellesley College was 96.5%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 92%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best choice for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Wellesley College in 2025 was 2,407.
That year, the institution had 86% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,407, 307 of which were international students. 15 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is women only for undergraduate, and coed for graduate, with 3 male and 2,305 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 591 Asian students and 194 Afro-American students in 2025. 331 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 177 as multirace. The school also had 5 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 7 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Wellesley College estimated tuition costs.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $69,800 in 2025. As Wellesley College is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $344 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $800.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Wellesley College was $22,296 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school came to $11,520, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 69,800 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,296 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 800 |
| Total Expense | $ 92,896 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at Wellesley College.
According to the most recent data, 309 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $69,116 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
1,245 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Wellesley College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,271. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $4,158,290, and state $336,850. The students of Wellesley College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $77,544,330, and external in the amount of $1,263,425.
$51,007
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 26 students overall (including freshmen) at Wellesley College in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 6 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $270,613. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,430,474 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Wellesley College was 8:1. That means that there were 8 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 338 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 124 male and 214 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Wellesley College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about students' life at Wellesley College.
It has a campus size of 500 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 160. The most popular student organization is theatre groups, followed by societies and cultural clubs. Other popular organizations among the students at Wellesley College are community service organizations and Student Government.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Wellesley College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Wellesley College, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Wellesley College.
All in all, campus life at Wellesley College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Wellesley College.
Career Counselling
At Wellesley College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA.
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Wellesley College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Wellesley College is 69,800 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Wellesley College is 14%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Wellesley College is 96.5%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.