Wellesley College is a private liberal arts college for women in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant, it enrolls about 2,500 students and grants Bachelor of Arts degrees across more than 50 departmental and interdepartmental majors. Its academic model combines a residential undergraduate college with substantial research and global study opportunities, including more than 50 study-abroad programs in over 30 countries and exchange options with institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of St Andrews, and Sciences Po.
The college’s mission centers on educating women who will make a difference in the world, and its student body includes women and nonbinary students who were assigned female at birth. Wellesley is part of the historic Seven Sisters and participates in cross-registration and shared resources with MIT, Babson College, Olin College, and Brandeis University. The campus spans roughly 500 acres west of Boston and includes the Wellesley Centers for Women, a research-and-action institute focused on gender equity, social justice, and human wellbeing. Wellesley also maintains a need-blind admission policy for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and states that it meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. Beyond the classroom, the college is known for a strong alumnae network and for preparing graduates for leadership in public service, science, business, education, and the arts.