Smith College vs. F&M

Deciding between Smith College and Franklin and Marshall College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Smith College
Franklin and Marshall College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Smith College Northampton, MA
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Smith College Large Suburban
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Smith College 2,857
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Smith College Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Smith College #68
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Smith College -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Smith College Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Smith College
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Smith College $65,178
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Smith College $65,178
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Smith College $22,570
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Smith College $27,305
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Smith College $58,725
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Smith College 67%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Smith College 8,666
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Smith College 1,820
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Smith College 21%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Smith College 35.4%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Smith College 1480
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Smith College 33
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Smith College 4.0
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Smith College A/A+
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Smith College Elite
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Smith College Very High
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Smith College 32/35
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Smith College 1420/1540
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Smith College Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Smith College Jan 15, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Smith College 8:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Smith College
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Smith College 85%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Smith College $48,900
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Smith College 80%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Smith College $19,000
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Smith College $196
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Smith College 2%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Smith College 98%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Smith College High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Smith College No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Smith College 45%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Smith College 12%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Smith College 5%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Smith College 10%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Smith College 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Smith College 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Smith College 5%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Smith College 14%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Smith College 8%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Smith College 12%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Smith College 74%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Smith College Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Smith College Yes
  • F&M No
  • Meal Plan
  • Smith College Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Smith College No
  • F&M No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Smith College No
  • F&M No

Comparable Facts

Compare Smith College in Northampton, MA with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Smith College is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (2,857 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Smith College is located in Northampton, MA (Large Suburban setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Smith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Smith College 8:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Smith College vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Smith College or F&M? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Smith College than F&M ($27,305 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 28.3% lower than at Smith College ($16,188 vs. $22,570).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Smith College (about $5,616 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $65,178.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at F&M than at Smith College (about $5,616 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $65,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Smith College (80% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Smith College students is 40.2% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($58,725 vs. $41,901).

Smith College vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Smith College or F&M? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between F&M and Smith College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Smith College (1480) is 90 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming Smith College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Smith College 1420/1540; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Smith College 32/35; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Smith College - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Smith College Jan 15, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than Smith College (21%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.4% at Smith College vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Smith College vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Smith College and F&M? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The graduation rate at Smith College is the same as at Franklin and Marshall College (85% vs. 85%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than Smith College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Smith College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($19,000 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, Smith College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($196 vs. $227).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith College students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.