Wells College provides an intimate liberal arts education with strong access for students from diverse economic backgrounds, including nearly half who receive Pell Grants.
The small college environment offers close faculty relationships and personalized attention, though graduates face earnings challenges that require careful financial planning.
Wells College is a small private liberal arts institution in Aurora, New York, serving fewer than 1,000 students in a highly personalized academic environment. The college maintains a strong commitment to access, with nearly 47% of students receiving Pell Grants and about 27% being first-generation college students. However, the institution faces challenges in translating this access into strong long-term financial outcomes for graduates.
Graduates earn a median of $51,094 ten years after enrollment, which places Wells in the bottom quartile nationally for earnings outcomes. The college's earnings performance falls short of what similar students achieve at other institutions, with graduates earning about $566 less than expected based on their backgrounds and characteristics. This earnings gap, combined with moderate debt levels, creates financial challenges that prospective students and families should carefully consider.
As a small liberal arts college, Wells offers an intimate educational experience with close faculty relationships and a tight-knit community. The college's rural setting near Cayuga Lake provides a distinctive campus environment, though this comes with trade-offs in terms of career networking opportunities and proximity to major employment centers. For students who prioritize the liberal arts experience and small college community over maximizing financial returns, Wells provides a unique educational pathway.
Wells College's program portfolio reflects its liberal arts mission, though specific program-level data is limited in available records. As a small institution with fewer than 1,000 students, Wells likely offers a focused curriculum emphasizing traditional liberal arts disciplines rather than the professional and technical programs that typically drive higher early-career earnings. This academic approach aligns with the college's educational philosophy but contributes to the earnings challenges graduates face in today's job market.
The absence of detailed program-level outcomes data suggests Wells may lack the scale and specialization in high-return fields that larger institutions provide. Small liberal arts colleges often excel in preparing students for graduate school and careers requiring critical thinking and communication skills, but these benefits may not translate immediately into competitive starting salaries. Students interested in fields like business, engineering, computer science, or healthcare may find limited options at Wells compared to larger universities.
For students drawn to Wells' intimate academic environment, the program mix likely emphasizes close faculty mentorship, small class sizes, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities. However, prospective students should carefully consider how their intended field of study aligns with career goals and earning expectations, particularly given the college's overall earnings performance relative to debt levels.
Wells College graduates face significant challenges in the job market, with long-term earnings that lag behind national averages and peer institutions. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $51,094, placing the college in the bottom 21% nationally for earnings outcomes. More concerning, Wells graduates earn about $566 less than similar students at other institutions, indicating that the college struggles to add value beyond what students might achieve elsewhere.
The earnings trajectory shows modest improvement over time, with graduates earning $35,648 six years after enrollment and reaching the $51,094 median by year ten. However, this growth pattern still leaves Wells graduates at a significant disadvantage compared to peers from other institutions. Only 11 graduates in recent cohorts earn more than $75,000 annually, highlighting the limited number of high-earning outcomes the college produces.
The college's small size and liberal arts focus contribute to these earnings challenges. Without extensive program data available, it appears Wells lacks the professional and technical programs that typically drive stronger early-career earnings. The rural location also limits access to major metropolitan job markets where starting salaries tend to be higher. While the liberal arts education provides valuable skills, the financial returns suggest graduates may need additional time or credentials to achieve competitive earning levels in today's economy.
Wells College presents a mixed affordability picture, with net prices that vary significantly by family income level. Low-income students pay approximately $17,281 annually after aid, which represents reasonable affordability for families with limited resources. Middle-income families face higher costs at around $21,000 per year, while high-income families pay about $30,684 annually, reflecting the college's need-based aid strategy.
Debt levels at Wells are moderate but concerning given the earnings outcomes. Typical graduates leave with $26,000 in federal student loan debt, and families often supplement this with Parent PLUS loans averaging $20,192. Combined, this creates total family borrowing of over $46,000, which becomes challenging to service given the college's below-average earnings outcomes. The debt-to-income ratio for typical graduates exceeds recommended guidelines, creating potential financial stress in the early career years.
The college's affordability challenges stem from the fundamental mismatch between borrowing levels and earning potential. While net prices are reasonable compared to many private colleges, the combination of moderate debt and lower-than-expected earnings creates a sustainability concern. Families considering Wells should carefully evaluate their ability to manage loan payments on the earnings levels typical graduates achieve, particularly in the first decade after graduation.
Wells College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
