Wellesley vs. Barnard

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Wellesley vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley or Barnard? 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 Wellesley College than Barnard ($22,174 vs. $26,407).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wellesley College are 3.2% lower than at Barnard College ($21,024 vs. $21,714).
• Barnard College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wellesley (about $2,712 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $67,176.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at Barnard than at Wellesley College (about $2,712 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $67,176.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at Barnard College (54% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($64,116 vs. $63,131).

Wellesley vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley or Barnard? 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 Barnard and Wellesley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 10 points higher than at Wellesley (1510).
• Incoming Wellesley students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Barnard College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Barnard College 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Barnard (3.85).
• Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (14%) than Barnard (8.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Wellesley vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley and Barnard? 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 Wellesley is the same as at Barnard College (92% vs. 92%).
• Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $8,947 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($8,900 vs. $17,847).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($92 vs. $184).
• More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)

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.