Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesWellesley College's combination of selective admissions, strong financial aid, and nationally mobile graduates places it among the most distinctive liberal arts colleges in the country for students seeking both academic depth and post-graduation opportunity.
Azimuth ranks Wellesley College #238 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Wellesley, MA, Wellesley College enrolls roughly 2,300 undergraduates. Retention is 96.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 91.5%, figures that place the college among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Wellesley College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Wellesley College #207 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $72,449, and they earnings beyond expectations at levels that place the college well above most peers. The academic profile leans toward Social Sciences, but strong outcomes extend across the curriculum, with Social Sciences accounting for 25% of degrees granted. The composite is shaped by access and affordability. Wellesley College admits about 14.1% of applicants — a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls, with 21.1% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 17.2% identifying as first-generation. Wellesley College sits in the 73.0 percentile for access and the 64.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, while mobility outcomes are notably stronger at the 72.4 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For admitted students who qualify for need-based aid, the college's financial aid policies can substantially reshape the sticker price, a dynamic worth exploring through Azimuth's composite view of ROI.
Wellesley College's published cost of attendance is $86,290, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $2,546 per year in net price — a figure that reflects the depth of Wellesley College's institutional aid commitment for qualifying students. Middle-income families pay around $6,587, and higher-income families pay approximately $54,188. Azimuth ranks Wellesley College #506 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. For a fuller picture of how net price and sticker price can differ, the gap between published cost and what families actually pay is the more meaningful number. Wellesley meets demonstrated financial need in full under its current aid policies, with aid structured entirely on a need basis — no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and work-study is available as part of the aid package. The result is that students from lower- and middle-income households often see net prices that bear little resemblance to the headline sticker, making Wellesley College more accessible than its published cost suggests for families who qualify for need-based support. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $10,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,825; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,449, median federal debt of $10,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $113 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Wellesley College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, humanities, and analytically rigorous fields who want a highly selective private university experience in MA — particularly those whose interests align with Social Sciences and related disciplines that feed into finance, consulting, government, and graduate study. The earnings case is compelling. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $72,449, placing Wellesley College in the 73.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Wellesley College #207 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based and reaches a meaningful share of students, though the Pell-eligible population is comparatively small at 21.1% of undergraduates, with 17.2% identifying as first-generation. Higher-income families should expect a net price near $54,188, and median student debt at graduation is $10,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Wellesley College admits about 14.1% of applicants, making the application process highly competitive, and the program portfolio is concentrated in Social Sciences and related fields rather than applied-professional or STEM-heavy tracks. Students whose academic interests and career goals align with that orientation will find the earnings trajectory and institutional outcomes among the strongest in the country.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Wellesley College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts Maritime Academy Higher acceptance rate (80.6 percentage points higher) and located 52 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 95% | $82,392 | Compare |
Brandeis University Higher acceptance rate (21.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 6 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 35% | $77,231 | Compare |
Trinity College Higher acceptance rate (19.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 80 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 34% | $90,779 | Compare |
Union College Higher acceptance rate (29.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 44% | $88,604 | Compare |
Binghamton University Higher acceptance rate (23.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 38% | $80,596 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Richmond Similar quality tier (#10673 ranked) | VA | 22% | $76,178 | #10673 | Compare |
University Of San Francisco Similar quality tier (#10691 ranked) | CA | 62% | $89,812 | #10691 | Compare |
Berea College Similar quality tier (#10704 ranked) | KY | 19% | $43,150 | #10704 | Compare |
Case Western Reserve University Similar quality tier (#10714 ranked) | OH | 37% | $87,989 | #10714 | Compare |
University Of Mount Saint Vincent Similar quality tier in Northeast (#9615 ranked) | NY | 85% | $65,756 | #9615 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Wellesley College's published cost of attendance is $86,290, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $2,546 per year in net price — a figure that reflects the depth of Wellesley College's institutional aid commitment for qualifying students.
Middle-income families pay around $6,587, and higher-income families pay approximately $54,188. Azimuth ranks Wellesley College #506 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. For a fuller picture of how [net price and sticker price can differ](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), the gap between published cost and what families actually pay is the more meaningful number.
Wellesley meets demonstrated financial need in full under its current aid policies, with aid structured entirely on a need basis — no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and work-study is available as part of the aid package.
The result is that students from lower- and middle-income households often see net prices that bear little resemblance to the headline sticker, making Wellesley College more accessible than its published cost suggests for families who qualify for need-based support. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $10,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,825; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,449, median federal debt of $10,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $113 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Wellesley College earn median 4-year earnings of $72,449, placing the institution in the 73.7th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $67,275 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Azimuth ranks Wellesley College #207 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 86.1st percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Wellesley College's strong foundation in Social Sciences, which represents 25% of graduates. Economics is the highest-earning program with 92 graduates earning median earnings of $121,787 four years after enrollment, ranking #26 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Azimuth ranks Computer and Information Sciences, General #4 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 57 graduates earning $177,213, while Political Science and Government ranks #47 nationally with 42 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,830.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
57 graduates
Economics
92 graduates
Computer Software and Media Applications
22 graduates
Political Science and Government
42 graduates
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
19 graduates
Wellesley College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, with Social Sciences accounting for 25% of graduates, followed by other STEM fields at 8% and Arts at 5%. Economics combines the largest cohort with strong earnings, making it the program that contributes most to the institution's overall financial outcomes.
Across 34 programs serving roughly 721 students annually, 8 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a high share that reflects breadth across the liberal-arts curriculum rather than concentration in a handful of fields. The strongest national ranks cluster in quantitative and analytical fields.
Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #5 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $177,213 from a cohort of 57. Azimuth ranks Economics #31 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $121,787, and Azimuth ranks Political Science #58 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $72,830.
Among the most popular programs, Economics program graduates 92 students annually with median earnings of $121,787, and Artificial Intelligence graduates 57 with median earnings of $177,213. For how Azimuth evaluates programs, see the methodology.
Many of Wellesley College's strongest programs are grad-school-dependent pathways — fields like Political Science and Research Psychology where a meaningful share of graduates continue to medical, law, or doctoral programs, and four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory. Artificial Intelligence and Economics, by contrast, channel graduates more directly into the workforce, and their four-year earnings reflect national labor-market outcomes in finance, technology, and consulting.
The supply and demand for college graduates framework provides context for how these fields align with broader wage trends.
