Wellesley vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Wellesley College and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wellesley #18
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wellesley -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wellesley
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wellesley 54%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wellesley 14%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wellesley 1510
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wellesley 34
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wellesley A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wellesley Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wellesley Very High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wellesley 92%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wellesley 86%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wellesley $92
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wellesley 2%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Wellesley 98%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wellesley Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wellesley No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Wellesley 40%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Wellesley 23%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Wellesley 6%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wellesley 11%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Wellesley 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wellesley 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wellesley 6%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Wellesley 12%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wellesley 4%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wellesley 12%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wellesley 73%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Wellesley vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Wellesley ($20,522 vs. $22,174).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 25.3% lower than at Wellesley College ($15,714 vs. $21,024).
  • Wellesley College is 274.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $49,247 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.4% higher at Wellesley than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $29,735 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (54% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 283% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($64,116 vs. $16,742).

Wellesley vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 100 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Wellesley students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Wellesley (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Wellesley vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $13,315 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($8,900 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $137 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($92 vs. $229).
  • More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 68%)

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.