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Wellesley College

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Wellesley, MA
5.0 1 review

#18 Best Colleges in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

2,407

Location Wellesley, Massachusetts
Website wellesley.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Large Suburban

Best Colleges Rank

#18

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad

Wellesley College, located in the suburban town of Wellesley, Massachusetts, sits on a 500-acre campus 12 miles west of Boston. Founded in 1870 as one of the first women's colleges in the United States, the institution maintains its commitment to undergraduate women's education within a liberal arts framework. The campus is known for its distinctive collegiate Gothic architecture, landscaped grounds featuring Lake Waban, and the Davis Museum of Art. A highly selective private college, Wellesley offers strong programs in economics, political science, biological sciences, and computer science, while maintaining cross-registration opportunities with MIT and other Boston-area institutions. The college requires students to live on campus all four years in its residence halls, which are organized around a house system that integrates academic and residential life.

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Ratings

Wellesley is rated within the top 5% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for Wellesley College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

Best Colleges in the U.S.

#18
Best Private Colleges in the U.S.

#18
Best Colleges in Massachusetts

#5
Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

#5
Best Value Colleges in the U.S.

#13
Best Value Colleges in Massachusetts

#5

Learn how rankings are calculated

Admissions

Admission Standards

Exceptional

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1460/1560
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 33/35

Acceptance Rate

14%

Applications Due Jan 8, 2027
Enrollment Rate 47.6%
Application Fee $0

Applicant Competition Very High

Very Low

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$67,176

Costs for Wellesley College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$67,176
Books and Supplies		$800
Other Fees		$296
Room and Board		$21,024
Budget for Other Expenses		$1,250
Total One Year Cost		$90,546

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$68,100 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

92% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Wellesley College are Social Sciences, Biology, and Ethnic Studies. 28% of students major in Social Sciences, 9% in Biology, and 9% in Ethnic Studies.