Head-to-head comparison
Smith College vs. Wellesley College
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Smith or Wellesley harder to get into?
Wellesley is harder to get into than Smith. Wellesley's 14.1% acceptance rate is lower than Smith's 21.0%.
Which is cheaper, Smith or Wellesley?
Wellesley costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Wellesley's average net price is $25,496 vs $27,579 at Smith.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
Wellesley graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $64,027 at Smith and $84,803 at Wellesley.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Smith | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 21.0% | 14.1% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1420–1540 | 1460–1560 |
| ACT mid-50% | 32–35 | 33–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $86,030 | $86,290 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $27,579 | $25,496 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,544 | 2,300 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 89.0% | 91.5% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $64,027 | $84,803 |
| Setting | Northampton, Massachusetts | Wellesley, Massachusetts |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
Wellesley is meaningfully harder to get into. A 6.9-percentage-point gap between 21.0% (Smith) and 14.1% (Wellesley) reflects real selectivity differences. Smith is the more realistic target for a balanced college list.
Wellesley graduates earn $20,776 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Smith grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.
Student Body Composition
The two schools have different student body compositions. Smith is 100.0% women, 13.7% international, and 9.2% Asian-American. Wellesley is 99.9% women, 13.4% international, and 25.7% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Smith | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 100.0% | 99.9% |
| International | 13.7% | 13.4% |
| White | 50.4% | 29.8% |
| Asian | 9.2% | 25.7% |
| Hispanic | 12.2% | 14.4% |
| Black | 5.1% | 8.4% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Smith vs. Wellesley?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Smith if
- Your odds are realistic at Smith (slightly easier admit)
- its Five College Consortium access
Pick Wellesley if
- Net price matters: Wellesley costs $2,083 less per year on average
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($84,803 vs $64,027)
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- cross-registration with MIT
Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.
Full School Pages
For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:
Full profile
Smith College
21.0% accept · Northampton, Massachusetts
Full profile
Wellesley College
14.1% accept · Wellesley, Massachusetts
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
- Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.