Wellesley vs. Hunter

Deciding between Wellesley College and CUNY Hunter 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.

Wellesley College
CUNY Hunter College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wellesley #18
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wellesley -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wellesley
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wellesley 54%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wellesley 14%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wellesley 1510
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wellesley 34
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wellesley A
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wellesley Elite
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wellesley Very High
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wellesley 92%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wellesley 86%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wellesley $92
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wellesley 2%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • Wellesley 98%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wellesley Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wellesley No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • Wellesley 40%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • Wellesley 23%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • Wellesley 6%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wellesley 11%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • Wellesley 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wellesley 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wellesley 6%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • Wellesley 12%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wellesley 4%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wellesley 12%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wellesley 73%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Wellesley Yes
  • Hunter Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Wellesley No
  • Hunter No
  • Meal Plan
  • Wellesley Yes
  • Hunter No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Wellesley No
  • Hunter No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Wellesley No
  • Hunter Yes

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

Wellesley vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than Wellesley ($4,431 vs. $22,174).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 43.7% lower than at Wellesley College ($11,832 vs. $21,024).
  • Wellesley College is 810% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $59,794 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 338.1% higher at Wellesley than at CUNY Hunter College (about $51,844 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Wellesley College (87% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 557.3% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($64,116 vs. $9,755).

Wellesley vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 250 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Wellesley (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Wellesley vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley and Hunter? 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).

  • Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $19,300 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $2,648 lower median loan debt than Hunter graduates ($8,900 vs. $11,548).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hunter graduates ($92 vs. $119).
  • More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 56%)

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.