Wellesley College
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $71,800 within 10 years; exceptional 92% graduation rate.
About This School
Wellesley College is a private nonprofit institution located in Wellesley, Massachusetts with approximately 2,300 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 14%. The average net price after financial aid is $25,496 per year. The graduation rate is 92%, and the typical graduate earns $71,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial grouping of women's colleges in the northeastern United States.
This is a strong option for students drawn to a tight-knit, academically serious environment — a 96% freshman retention rate signals that students who arrive tend to stay and thrive, and a 91% graduation rate backs that up. The financial picture is genuinely encouraging: median debt at graduation is just $8,700, well below the national norm, and median earnings of $71,800 a decade out reflect real career traction for graduates. The main consideration is fit — as a women's college with just over 2,300 undergrads, it's a specific social environment that will energize some students and feel limiting to others, so visit if you can.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Wellesley College graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer and Information Sciences, General ($177,213 vs $92,374 nationally), and most below it in Research and Experimental Psychology ($52,538 vs $55,695).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 97 | $121,787 | $82,686 | +$39,101 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 68 | $52,538 | $55,695 | −$3,157 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 67 | $177,213 | $92,374 | +$84,839 |
| Political Science and Government | 45 | $72,830 | $63,293 | +$9,537 |
| Biology, General | 37 | $58,285 | $57,214 | +$1,071 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 27 | $59,865 | $48,590 | +$11,275 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 22 | $98,816 | $58,894 | +$39,922 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 18 | $65,036 | $55,000 | +$10,036 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,300 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Wellesley College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Wellesley College?
Wellesley College has an acceptance rate of 14%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Wellesley College hard to get into?
Yes. With an acceptance rate of 14%, Wellesley College is highly selective, so strong grades, a rigorous course load, and a standout application matter.
How much does Wellesley College cost?
The average net price at Wellesley College is about $25,496 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Wellesley College?
Wellesley College has a graduation rate of 92%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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