Private · #6 Liberal Arts College

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA · 2,300 undergraduates

14%
Acceptance rate
1460–1560
SAT middle 50%
33–35
ACT middle 50%
Test-optional
Test policy
92%
Graduation rate
$84,803
Median earnings (10 yr)
✓ Meets full demonstrated need

What it may cost by family income

Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $86,290 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.

Household incomeEst. net price / year
Under $30k$2,546
$30k–$48k$2,836
$48k–$75k$6,587
$75k–$110k$11,551
Over $110k$54,188

Sticker cost of attendance: $86,290. GPA context: Women's college.

What the whole degree costs

Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.

Household income4 yrs, today's prices4 yrs with increases
Under $30k$10,184$10,731
$30k–$48k$11,344$11,954
$48k–$75k$26,348$27,764
$75k–$110k$46,204$48,687
Over $110k$216,752$228,399

First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask Wellesley College how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.

Applying to a specific major at Wellesley College

14% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.

To find the real figure for your major, check Wellesley College's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.

Computer Science Capacity-constrained

At Wellesley College: 67 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $86,867 median earnings (Computer and Information Sciences, General.)

Applicant demand has grown far faster than faculty and seats, so many universities cap CS enrollment, admit to it directly, or require a competitive internal application after enrolling.

Check: Whether the school admits to CS directly, and whether switching into CS later is restricted — the answer changes your real odds more than your test scores do.

Visual & Performing Arts Portfolio or audition

At Wellesley College: 18 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $36,312 median earnings (Fine and Studio Arts.)

Admission usually turns on an audition or portfolio judged by the department, which can outweigh grades and test scores in either direction.

Check: Audition/portfolio dates and prescreen requirements — many fall well before the regular application deadline.

Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at Wellesley College in engineering, nursing, business or architecture, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.

What graduates earn, by major

Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of Wellesley College, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.

MajorMedian earningsMedian debt
Economics. · Social Sciences $76,460 —
Computer and Information Sciences, General. · Computer Science $86,867 —
Political Science and Government. · Social Sciences $36,852 —
Biology, General. · Biological Sciences $31,848 —
Neurobiology and Neurosciences. · Biological Sciences $38,289 —
English Language and Literature, General. · Humanities $31,314 —
Area Studies. $34,420 —
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. $33,993 —
Natural Resources Conservation and Research. $29,685 —
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. · Humanities $33,281 —
Fine and Studio Arts. · Visual & Performing Arts $36,312 —
Anthropology. · Social Sciences $18,154 —

Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.

Is Wellesley College a reach, target, or safety for you?

Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.

Model my odds & cost — free

Figures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with Wellesley College’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.