Wellesley vs. Reed

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA with Reed College in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wellesley College is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (2,407 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Reed College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; Reed College 9:1.

Wellesley vs. Reed Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley or Reed? 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 Reed ($22,174 vs. $30,953).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reed College are 16% lower than at Wellesley College ($17,660 vs. $21,024).
• Reed College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wellesley (about $2,174 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $67,176.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Reed than at Wellesley College (about $2,174 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $67,176.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reed College than at Wellesley College (58% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 15.6% larger than aid received by Reed College students ($64,116 vs. $55,445).

Wellesley vs. Reed Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 100 points higher than at Reed (1410).
• Incoming Wellesley students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Reed).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Reed College 1290/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Reed College 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Reed - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Wellesley (3.86).
• Reed has a higher acceptance rate (24.6%) than Wellesley (14%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 13.1% at Reed.

Wellesley vs. Reed Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley and Reed? 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 Reed College's (80%).
• Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $20,900 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $7,100 lower median loan debt than Reed graduates ($8,900 vs. $16,000).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Reed graduates ($92 vs. $165).
• More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Reed students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 84%)

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.