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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%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 8. The transfer application deadline is March 1.
To find out more about what Wellesley College has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
2,407
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$69,800
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
92%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Check out some essential info about admission policy and requirements at Wellesley College.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,224 in 2025. Wellesley College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Wellesley College offers a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 43% and ACT scores 18%. 92.74% of the first-year students 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 freshman students 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. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Wellesley College was 96.5%, which is an excellent 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. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 92%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right match for you is not a simple task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Wellesley College in 2025 was 2,407.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 86% for that year. There was a total of 2,407 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 307 international students. 15 students enrolled 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, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. 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 identified as Hispanic/Latino and 177 as multirace. The school also had 5 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 7 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Wellesley College? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $69,800 in 2025. Since Wellesley College is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $344 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $800.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Wellesley College was $22,296 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 stood at $11,520 for one academic year.
| 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. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Wellesley College, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 309 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $69,116.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 1,245 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 amounted to 1,271. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $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. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 26 students overall (including freshmen) at Wellesley College in 2025. 6 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. 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).
Majors
Faculty
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
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 total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 338. Out of that number, there were 124 men and 214 women. 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
Not everything at Wellesley College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some information about students' life at Wellesley College.
Its campus spans 500 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
This school has 160 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is theatre groups, followed by societies and cultural clubs. Other popular student organizations at this school are community service organizations and Student Government.
For those interested in acting, there is a drama club you can become part of. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Wellesley College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Wellesley College offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health 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 a great asset 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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According to the latest information, the tuition for Wellesley College is 69,800 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Wellesley College is 14%.
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The most recent reported 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.
