Wellesley vs. The New School

Comparable Facts

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

The New School is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (9,068 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wellesley vs. The New School Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley or The New School? 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 The New School ($22,174 vs. $67,224).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wellesley College are 17% lower than at The New School ($21,024 vs. $25,337).
• Wellesley College is 14.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than The New School (about $8,482 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $58,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.5% higher at Wellesley than at The New School (about $8,482 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $58,694.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The New School than at Wellesley College (94% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 189.1% larger than aid received by The New School students ($64,116 vs. $22,174).

Wellesley vs. The New School Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley or The New School? 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 The New School and Wellesley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 260 points higher than at The New School (1250).
• Incoming Wellesley students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at The New School).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; The New School 1140/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; The New School 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; The New School - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at The New School (3.59).
• The New School has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Wellesley (14%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 21.3% at The New School.

Wellesley vs. The New School Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley and The New School? 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 The New School's (61%).
• Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $15,400 more per year than The New School graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $52,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $14,972 lower median loan debt than The New School graduates ($8,900 vs. $23,872).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $154 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The New School graduates ($92 vs. $246).
• More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The New School students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 65%)

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.