Wellesley College

Wellesley College is a private liberal arts college for women located in the Massachusetts town of the same name. Wellesley serves a diverse enrollment of 2,400 undergraduates each year, with less than half of all students identifying as Caucasian. Notable alums include politician Hillary Clinton, journalist Diane Sawyer, and screenwriter Nora Ephron. Students play a major role in everything at Wellesley. Beyond academics, students serve on committees of the Board of Trustees, contribute to strategic planning, and participate in faculty research. In the classroom, learners can choose from more than 50 departmental and interdepartmental majors including geoscience, psychology, health and society, and women's and gender studies. A large percentage of students participate in international study, internships, and dual-degree programs with other institutions. Applying to Wellesley requires submitting a free application, two essays, high school transcripts, and ACT or SAT scores. If desired, applicants may also schedule an interview and/or provide an arts, music, or theatre supplement.
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Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
5% of students
were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools
with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but
are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
76% of full-time
students stayed to continue their studies the following academic
year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall
2020.
Graduation Rate Insight
98% of students
graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their
studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are
not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners.
Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Application Considerations
Test scores: | Required | High school transcript: | Required |
High school rank: | Recommended | Letter of recommendation: | Required |
High school GPA: | Recommended | Open admission: | No |
Completion of college prep program: | Not required or recommended | Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL): |
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollment: Implied no
Advance placement (AP) credits: Yes
Credit for qualified life experience*:
ⓘ
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials,
or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a
portfolio to earn credit.
Learning Environment
30k
Students enrolledOnline student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio
97%
Online student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio
5:1
Student to faculty ratio
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.
# | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Architecture And Related Services | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
2 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
3 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
4 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
5 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
6 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
7 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
8 | Education | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
9 | Engineering Technologies/Technicians | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
10 | Engineering | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
11 | Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
12 | English Language And Literature/Letters | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
13 | Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
14 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
15 | Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
16 | Health Professions And Related Programs | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
17 | History | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
18 | History | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
19 | Legal Professions And Studies | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
20 | Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
21 | Mathematics And Statistics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
22 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
23 | Natural Resources And Conservation | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
24 | Philosophy And Religious Studies | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
25 | Physical Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
26 | Psychology | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
27 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
28 | Social Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
29 | Theology And Religious Vocations | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
30 | Visual And Performing Arts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |