Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
Wellesley College, founded in 1870, is a private, liberal arts college for women. Its 500-acre campus and arboretum is located in Wellesley, 12 miles west of Boston. It is committed to intellectual scholarship, research and innovative teaching in a context in which women can achieve and flourish. The college has a comprehensive curriculum, a top-notch, accessible faculty and a strong support network on campus as well as a very active and impressive alumnae network. Campus buildings encompass a variety of architectural styles ranging from Gothic to contemporary.
Website: www.wellesley.edu/
Admission
- Entrance Difficulty
- Most difficult
- Overall Admission Rate
- 22% of 5,666 applicants were admitted
- Early Action Offered
- No
- Early Decision Offered
- Yes
- Regular Admission Deadline
- January 15
Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
- Average GPA
- Not reported
- SAT Math
- 670-770 range of middle 50%
- SAT EBRW
-
720 average
690-760 range of middle 50% - ACT Composite
- 31 average
30-33 range of middle 50%
Money Matters
- Cost of Attendance
- $70,200
- Tuition and Fees
- $53,732
- Room and Board
- $16,468
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 100%
- Average Freshman Award
- $54,894
- Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates
- $16,122
Academics
- Academic Calendar System
- Semester
- General Education/Core Curriculum
- Required for most or all students
- Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
- 309
- Regular Class Size
- 2-9 students: 25% of classes
10-19 students: 48% of classes
20-29 students: 22% of classes
30-39 students: 4% of classes
40-49 students: 1% of classes
Campus Life
- Wellesley Population
- 27,982
- Nearest Metropolitan Area
- Boston
- Freshman Housing Guarantee
- Freshmen are guaranteed housing
- Students in College Housing
- 98% of all students
- Athletic Conferences
- NCAA Division III
- Mascot
- Sororities
- Fraternities
Students
- Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
- 0.2% American Indian/Alaskan Native
26.8% Asian
7.1% Black/African-American
13.6% Hispanic/Latino
7.2% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.0% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
45.1% White
0.1% Unknown - International Students
- 12.2% from 84 countries
- First-Year Students Returning
- 95.0%
- Students Graduating Within 4 Years
- 78.2%
- Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
- 63%
- Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
- Not reported
Freshman Admission Requirements
Entrance Difficulty
Most Difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT I or over 29 on the ACT; about 30% or fewer of all applicants accepted.
High School Preparation
- High School Graduation
- High school diploma or equivalent is not required
- High School Program
High School Units Required or Recommended
Subject | Required Units | Recommended Units |
---|---|---|
English | 4 | |
Mathematics | 4 | |
Science | 3 | |
Foreign Language | 4 | |
Social Studies | 4 | |
History | 4 | |
Academic Electives |
Examinations
Exam | Required Units | Scores Due in Admissions Office |
---|---|---|
SAT or ACT | Required | December 31 |
SAT Only | ||
ACT Only | ||
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT | ||
SAT Subject Tests Only | ||
SAT Essay Component Policy | Accepted with or without essay component | |
ACT Writing Test Policy | Writing component required | |
ACT Writing Test Policy | SAT: Not used ACT: Not used |
Applying for Admission
Admissions Office
- Address
- 106 Central Street
- City, State, Zip
- Wellesley, MA 02481
- Phone
- (781) 283-2270
- Fax
- (781) 283-3678
- admission@wellesley.edu
Application Dates and Fees
- Regular Admisson Deadline
- January 15
- Application Fee
- No fee required
- Application Fee Waiver
- Available
- Regular Admission Notification
- April 1
- Accept Offer of Admission
- May 1
- Waiting List Used
- Yes
- Defer Admission
- Student can defer admission
- Transfer Admission
- Transfer applications accepted
Early Admission
- Early Decision Offered
- Yes
- Early Decision Deadline
- November 1, January 1
- Early Decision Notification
- December 15, February 28
- Early Action Offered
- No
- Early Action Deadline
- Early Action Notification
Application Form
- Common Application
- Accepted, supplemental forms required
- Universal College Application
- Not accepted
- Electronic Application
- Available
Other Application Requirements
- Interview
- Not Required
- Essay or Personal Statement
- Required for all freshmen
- Letters of Recommendation
- 3 required for all freshmen
- Other
- First senior marking period grades and mid-year report required for freshmen
- Financial Need
- Financial need is not a consideration in the admissions process
Selection of Students
Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rigor of Secondary School Record | X | |||
Academic GPA | X | |||
Standardized Tests | X | |||
Class Rank | X | |||
Recommendations | X | |||
Essay | X | |||
Interview | X | |||
Level of Applicant's Interest | X | |||
Extracurricular Activities | X | |||
Volunteer Work | X | |||
Particular Talent/Ability | X | |||
Character/Personal Qualities | X | |||
First Generation to Attend College | X | |||
State Residency | X | |||
Geographic Residence | X | |||
Relation with Alumnus | X | |||
Religious Affiliation/Commitment | X | |||
Ethnicity | X | |||
Work Experience | X |
Profile of Fall Admission
- Overall Admission Rate
- 22% of 5,666 applicants were admitted
- Women
- 22% of 5,666 applicants were admitted
- Men
- Not reported
- Students Enrolled
- 614 (49%) of 1,251 admitted students enrolled
- Women
- 614 (49%) of 1,251 admitted students enrolled
- Men
- Not reported
- Early Decision Admission Rate
- 35% of 714 applicants were admitted
- Early Action Admission Rate
- Students Offered Wait List
- 2,032
- Students Accepting Wait List Position
- 1,153
- Students Admitted From Wait List
- 36
Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)
- Average GPA
- Not reported
- 3.75 and Above
- Not reported
- 3.50 - 3.74
- Not reported
- 3.25 - 3.49
- Not reported
- 3.00 - 3.24
- Not reported
- 2.50 - 2.99
- Not reported
- 2.00 - 2.49
- Not reported
SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen
- SAT Math
- 670-770 range of middle 50%
- Score of 700 - 800
- 60%
- Score of 600 - 700
- 36%
- Score of 500 - 600
- 3%
- Score of 400 - 500
- 0%
- Score of 300 - 400
- 0%
- Score of 200 - 300
- 0%
- SAT EBRW
- 720 average
690-760 range of middle 50% - Score of 700 - 800
- 71%
- Score of 600 - 700
- 25%
- Score of 500 - 600
- 3%
- Score of 400 - 500
- 0%
- Score of 300 - 400
- 0%
- Score of 200 - 300
- 0%
ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen
- ACT Composite
- 31 average
30-33 range of middle 50% - Score of 30 - 36
- 80%
- Score of 24 - 29
- 20%
- Score of 18 - 23
- 0%
- Score of 12 - 17
- 0%
- Score of 6 - 11
- 0%
- Score of 5 or Below
- 0%
Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
- High School Class Rank
- Top tenth: 81%
Top quarter: 96%
Top half: 99% - National Merit Scholar
- Not reported
- Valedictorian
- Not reported
- Class President
- Not reported
- Student Government Officer
- Not reported
Tuition and Expenses
- Cost of Attendance
- $70,200
- Tuition and Fees
- $53,732
- Room and Board
- $16,468
- Books and Supplies
- Not reported
- Other Expenses
- Not reported
- Payment Plans
- Prepayment plan, installment plan
Applying for Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
- sfs@wellesley.edu
- Web Site
- Financial Aid Web Site
- Net Price Calculator URL
- Net Price Calculator URL
Application Process
- Application Deadline
- Priority deadline February 15
- Award Notification
- On or about April 1
- Methodology for Awarding Institutional Aid
- Federal and Institutional Methodologies
Forms Required | Cost to File |
---|---|
FAFSA Code is 002224 |
Free |
CSS/Financial Aid Profile | $25 for first college, $16 each additional |
Noncustodial (Divorced/Separated) Parent's Statement |
Profile of 2018 - 19 Financial Aid
Freshman
- Financial Aid Applicants
- 442 (70.8%) of freshmen
- Found to Have Financial Need
- 366 (82.7%) of applicants
- Received Financial Aid
- 366 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
- Need Fully Met
- 366 (100.0%) of aid recipients
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 100%
- Average Award
- $54,894
- Need-Based Gift
- Received by 355 (96.6%) of aid recipients, average amount $52,881
- Need-Based Self-Help
- Received by 342 (88.7%) of aid recipients, average amount $3,694
- Merit-Based Gift
- Received by 28 aid recipients
- Merit-Based Gift
- Not reported
All Undergraduates
- Financial Aid Applicants
- 1,501 (68.9%) of undergraduates
- Found to Have Financial Need
- 1,335 (88.9%) of applicants
- Received Financial Aid
- 1,335 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
- Need Fully Met
- 1,335 (100.0%) of aid recipients
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 100%
- Average Award
- $53,776
- Need-Based Gift
- Received by 1,273 (97.2%) of aid recipients, average amount $50,752
- Need-Based Self-Help
- Received by 1,250 (91.3%) of aid recipients, average amount $4,369
- Merit-Based Gift
- Received by 92 aid recipients
- Merit-Based Gift
- Not reported
Borrowing
- 2018 Graduates Who Took Out Loans
- 52%
- Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates
- $16,122
- Parents of Students Receiving Aid
- Not reported
- Parents of Students Not Receiving Aid
- Not reported
Financial Aid Programs
Loans
- Federal Loans
- Direct subsidized Stafford loans, direct unsubsidized Stafford loans, direct PLUS loans, Federal Perkins loans
- State Loans
- Available
- Other Loans
- College/university loans
Scholarships and Grants
- Need-Based Available
- Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships
- Non-Need–Based Available
- None
Non-Need Awards
- Academic Interest/Achievement Award Areas
- Not reported
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Creative Arts/Performance Award Areas
- Not reported
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Special Achievements/Activities Award Areas
- Not reported
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Special Characteristics Award Areas
- Not reported
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
Employment
- Work-Study Programs
- Federal work study available, other work study available
- Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment
- Not reported
- Academic Calendar System
- Semester
- Summer Session
- Offered
- General Catalog/Bulletin
- Online Catalog
Undergraduate Education
Undergraduate Majors
- African Studies
- African-American/Black Studies
- American/United States Studies/Civilization
- Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
- Anthropology
- Architecture
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Biochemistry
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Chemistry, General
- Chinese Language and Literature
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
- Comparative Literature
- Computer Science
- Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- East Asian Studies
- Economics, General
- English Language and Literature, General
- Environmental Studies
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other
- Film/Cinema/Video Studies
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other
- Fine/Studio Arts, General
- French Language and Literature
- French Studies
- Geology/Earth Science, General
- German Language and Literature
- German Studies
- History, General
- International Relations and Affairs
- Islamic Studies
- Italian Language and Literature
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Language and Literature
- Jewish/Judaic Studies
- Latin American Studies
- Latin Language and Literature
- Linguistics
- Mathematics, General
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- Music, General
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies
- Neuroscience
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
- Philosophy
- Physics, General
- Political Science and Government, General
- Psychology, General
- Religion/Religious Studies
- Russian Language and Literature
- Russian Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish Language and Literature
- Women's Studies
- Most Popular Disciplines
- Social sciences, Biological/life sciences, Area and ethnic studies
- Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs
- Engineering, architecture, aeronautics and astronautics, urban studies and planning with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, international economics and finance with Brandeis University
- Special Programs
- Cooperative work study program, Student-designed major, Double major, Honors program, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad, Summer session
- Study Abroad
- Offered
- Online Degrees
- Not reported
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
- General Education/Core Curriculum
- Required for most or all students
- Computer
- Students not required to own/lease a computer
- Foreign Language
- Required
- Math/Science
- Required for all students
Faculty and Instruction
- Full-Time Faculty
- 309
- Part-Time Faculty
- 50
- Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree
- 80%
- Regular Class Size
- 2-9 students: 25% of classes
10-19 students: 48% of classes
20-29 students: 22% of classes
30-39 students: 4% of classes
40-49 students: 1% of classes - Discussion Section/Lab Class Size
- 2-9 students: 21% of discussion sections/labs
10-19 students: 79% of discussion sections/labs
Advanced Placement
- International Baccalaureate
- Accepted
- Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
- Accepted for placement and credit
- Sophomore Standing
- Available through AP examinations
Academic Resources
- Library Available on Campus
- Yes
- Holdings
- 1,902,859
- Computer Ownership
- Students not required to own/lease a computer
- Computers Available on Campus
- 468
- Internet/E-mail Access
- Not reported
Academic Support Services
- Remedial Instruction
- Not Offered
- Tutoring
- Available
- Services for Learning Disabled Students
- Available
- Services for Physically Disabled Students
- Hearing impaired services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access
Graduate/Professional School Education
Master's Degrees Offered
Not reported
Master's Programs of Study
- Not reported
Doctoral Degrees Offered
Not reported
Doctoral Programs of Study
- Not reported
Location and Setting
- Wellesley Population
- 27,982
- Nearest Metropolitan Area
- Boston
- Campus Size
- 500 acres
Weather
- Temperature
- 21.6 average low in January, 76.3 average high in September
- Rain
- 127 rainy days per year
Getting Around
- Campus Map
- Map
- Nearest Bus Station
- 15 mile(s) from campus in Boston
- Nearest Train Station
- 15 mile(s) from campus in Boston
Housing
- College Housing
- College offers housing to students
- Types of Housing
- Women only housing, cooperative housing
- Students in College Housing
- 98% of all students
- Housing Requirements
- Freshman Housing Guarantee
- Freshmen are guaranteed housing
- Students Living Off Campus/Commuting
- 2%
- Off-Campus Housing Assistance
Security
- 24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices
- Available
- 24-Hour Security Patrols
- Available
- Late-Night Transport/Escort Services
- Available
- Electronically Operated Housing Entrances
- Available
- Other
Personal Support Services
- Health Service
- Offered
- Personal Counseling
- Offered
- Child Care
- Offered
Sports and Recreation
Intercollegiate Athletics
- Athletic Conferences
- NCAA Division III
- Mascot
- School Colors
- Wellesley blue
Intercollegiate Sports Offered
Sports | Women | Men | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Offered | Scholarships | Offered | Scholarships | |
Basketball | x | |||
Crew | x | |||
Cross-Country Running | x | |||
Fencing | x | |||
Field Hockey | x | |||
Golf | x | |||
Lacrosse | x | |||
Soccer | x | |||
Softball | x | |||
Squash | x | |||
Swimming And Diving | x | |||
Tennis | x | |||
Track And Field | x | |||
Volleyball | x |
Women's Sports | Offered | Scholarships |
---|---|---|
Basketball | x | |
Crew | x | |
Cross-Country Running | x | |
Fencing | x | |
Field Hockey | x | |
Golf | x | |
Lacrosse | x | |
Soccer | x | |
Softball | x | |
Squash | x | |
Swimming And Diving | x | |
Tennis | x | |
Track And Field | x | |
Volleyball | x |
Mens's Sports | Offered | Scholarships |
---|---|---|
Basketball | ||
Crew | ||
Cross-Country Running | ||
Fencing | ||
Field Hockey | ||
Golf | ||
Lacrosse | ||
Soccer | ||
Softball | ||
Squash | ||
Swimming And Diving | ||
Tennis | ||
Track And Field | ||
Volleyball |
- Women's Club Sports
- rugby, sailing, skiing (downhill), ultimate Frisbee
- Men's Club Sports
Recreational Sports
- Intramural Sports
- archery, basketball, crew, skiing (cross-country), skiing (downhill), soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo
Student Activities
- Activities and Organizations
- choral groups, drama theatre, radio station, student newspaper, television station, student government, community service organizations, cultural clubs, societies, theater groups
- Sororities
- Fraternities
- ROTC
- Army ROTC is offered off campus, Air Force ROTC offered off campus
Student Body
- Coeducational
- No, women only
- All Undergraduates
- 2,508
- Women
- 2,454 (97.8%)
- Men
- 54 (2.2%)
- Full-Time Undergraduates
- 2,374
- Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
- 0.2% American Indian/Alaskan Native
26.8% Asian
7.1% Black/African-American
13.6% Hispanic/Latino
7.2% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.0% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
45.1% White
0.1% Unknown - International Students.
- 12.2% from 84 countries
- Average Age
- 20
- All Graduate Students
- Not reported
Undergraduate Retention and Graduation
- First-Year Students Returning
- 95.0%
- Students Graduating Within 4 Years
- 78.2%
- Students Graduating Within 5 Years
- 87.4%
- Students Graduating Within 6 Years
- 90.0%
After Graduation
- Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
- 63%
- Average Starting Salary
- 63%
- Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
- Not reported
- Disciplines Pursued
- Business 1.1%
Engineering 1.98%
Law 2.2%
Theology 0.2%
Dentistry 0.2%
Arts and Sciences 7%
Medicine 4.4%
Veterinary Medicine 0.2%
Education 1.1%
Other 3.74%
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