Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Swarthmore is 1.8× more selective than Wellesley
Acceptance rate - 2
Wellesley's yield is 4 pts higher than Swarthmore's
Yield rate - 3
Swarthmore's SAT midpoint is 25 points higher than Wellesley's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- WellesleyHighly selective
- SwarthmoreHighly selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1400–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- WellesleyTest-optional
- SwarthmoreTest-optional
How they read a record
Wellesley
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered.
Swarthmore
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Wellesley | Swarthmore |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Important | Considered |
| College-prep program | Considered | Considered |
| Recommendations | Very important | Required |
| Essay | Important | Required |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Considered | Considered |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:Wellesley College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why