Quad

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MAQuad's selectivityHighly selective
Known forTop test scoresBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 8,700 applied (fall 2024: 8,714)Wellesley College (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 13.7% admitted (fall 2024: 14.1%)Wellesley College (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 730–760 (fall 2024: 730–770)Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 720–790 (fall 2024: 730–790)Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 95% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 97%)Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Wellesley College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 7 applicants admitted

Wellesley admits about 1 in 7 applicants (14%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 97% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

14%

14%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityHighly selective

Applied

8,700

Admitted

1,224

Yield

48%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1460–1540

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–35

1836
Applications +85% since fall 2014 · admit rate 30% → 14%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,300 undergrads, where 21% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

2.3K

undergrads · larger than 61% of colleges

Diversity index

0.79

Pell Grant

21%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Large suburbNCAA D-III · New England Women's & Men's Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.74 → 0.79 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (11% of graduates). 7 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 92% of colleges. 80% of faculty are full-time. Spends $39,815 a year on instruction per student.

7 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 92% of colleges

Most popular major

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

11% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$177.2K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

80%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$39.8K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $51,593 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $27.3K more than the national median. The 54% who received grants paid $22,174 on average; the other 46% paid the full sticker price of $86,290.

40%

$51.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $27.3K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$86,290 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
None
all grants are need-based
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 40% of full price

Federal loans

16%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office
Cost rising · +8% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $84,803 ten years after enrolling, more than at 93% of colleges; 92% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.4 years of that salary.

92%

92%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$84.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$10K

≈ $106/month for 10 years

Retention

95%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 91% → 92% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 11% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 8%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 85% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 30% to 14%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +8% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +85%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 30% → 14% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.74 → 0.79

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Wellesley College (Fall 2025)

    Wellesley College · Fall 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-11

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26

    Wellesley College · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle; Fall 2026 entrants; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-11

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    Wellesley College (2026–27)

    Wellesley College · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  14. 14
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  21. 21
    Wellesley College (2026)

    Wellesley College · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 168218 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything