Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 14.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 94/100 · Exceptional Value
Wellesley scores a 94 (Exceptional Value) at a women's liberal arts college 12 miles west of Boston with 2,300 undergraduates. The ROI case is built on low debt and high earnings relative to investment: median debt of $10,000 is among the lowest in the dataset; the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.206; and the 4.9-year payback period is fast for a school at this price point. Median 6-year earnings of $48,600 appear moderate until you account for the major mix -- Wellesley sends disproportionate numbers into graduate programs, which temporarily suppresses 6-year Scorecard earnings. Economics is the largest high-earning program (97 graduates, $86,367 year-one), followed by Computer and Information Sciences (67 graduates, $100,644 year-one). The 91.5% completion rate is strong. The 21.1% Pell rate is high for an elite private school, reflecting a genuine financial aid commitment. Wellesley's Boston-area location and its formal exchange with MIT create access to STEM coursework and recruiting networks that its own program list does not fully signal.
The median graduate earns $84,803 ten years after entry - well above the national median of roughly $55,000 for 4-year college graduates.
Wellesley College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $67,176/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $67,176/yr |
| Average net price | $25,496/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $101,984 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $84,803 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $106 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,300 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Wellesley College is $67,176/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,496/year, or roughly $101,984 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $2,546/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $54,188/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $10,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $106 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $84,803 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.21 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,546 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,836 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,587 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,551 |
| $110,001+ | $54,188 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $2,546 per year at Wellesley -- about $10,000 over four years total. That is a genuine affordability commitment from a school with a $67,000 sticker price. Against median 6-year earnings of $48,600 and a 4.9-year payback, a low-income Wellesley student in economics or CS is making an exceptional investment. Even humanities graduates at this cost level leave with manageable debt.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $2,836 per year -- roughly equal to the lowest bracket. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $6,587, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket reaches $11,551. The slope across middle income is gradual and affordable throughout. Families earning up to $110,000 pay well under $12,000 per year -- a striking number for an elite private college. Wellesley's financial aid model is one of the more generous in New England.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $54,188 per year -- essentially full sticker. Over four years that approaches $217,000 all-in. Against a median 10-year earnings figure of $84,803, the full-pay case is financially defensible for graduates in economics or CS but tight for those in humanities or psychology. A student paying full freight for a degree in Romance Languages ($36,776 year-one earnings) needs a clear graduate-school plan to justify the cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Wellesley College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $121,787 | A |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $52,538 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $177,213 | A |
| International Relations | $72,830 | A |
| Biology | $58,285 | B+ |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $44,687 | A |
| English Language and Literature | $59,865 | B+ |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $98,816 | - |
| Area Studies | $43,231 | A |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $43,926 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Economics
Economics is Wellesley's volume leader among high-earning programs: 97 graduates, $86,367 at year one, $121,787 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.130 (ROI grade A) and median debt of $11,190 make this one of the most financially efficient economics programs in New England. Wellesley economics graduates enter finance, consulting, and policy roles in the Boston-Cambridge and New York City labor markets. The school's proximity to MIT and Harvard -- including the cross-registration agreement -- shapes the quantitative depth of the program and the sophistication of graduates that employers recruit. The four-year earnings ($121,787) reflect advancement into senior analytical or finance roles.
Computer and Information Sciences
Sixty-seven CIS graduates earn a median $100,644 at year one and $177,213 at four years -- the highest four-year earnings among any Wellesley program. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.133 (ROI grade A) and $13,350 median debt are clean. Wellesley's MIT cross-registration agreement is directly relevant here: students can take CS courses at MIT and enter recruiting pipelines that overlap with MIT's. The $177,213 four-year figure reflects placement into senior software engineering and technology roles in the Boston-Cambridge and New York tech markets.
International Relations
Forty-five International Relations graduates earn $50,214 at year one and $72,830 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.249 (ROI grade A) reflects the low debt load ($12,500 median) relative to earnings. The year-one figure is moderate and consistent with entry-level roles in government, think tanks, NGOs, and international finance. For students planning graduate school in law or international affairs -- a common Wellesley path -- the 6-year Scorecard number understates lifetime trajectory. The four-year figure ($72,830) reflects those who enter the workforce directly without graduate study.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Research and Experimental Psychology (68 graduates) earns $36,283 at year one and $52,538 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.345 (ROI grade B+) shows the debt burden is manageable given Wellesley's low borrowing levels. The year-one figure reflects the reality of most psychology bachelor's degree holders: entry-level research, clinical coordination, and human services roles. Many Wellesley psychology graduates continue to graduate programs, and the Scorecard's 6-year window captures a mix of post-grad earners and graduate students. For students planning psychology careers without a graduate degree, the entry earnings are modest against any private school cost.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 92.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 92.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 91.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 94.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 14.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 730-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 730-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 2,300 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,120 |
Wellesley admits 14% of applicants -- selective but not in the lowest-percentile tier. SAT Math 730-790, Reading 730-770; ACT 33-35. The 14% rate places it between the most selective LACs (Amherst, Williams) and slightly more accessible ones. As a women's college, the applicant pool is self-selected: only women (and some non-binary students) apply, which affects how admission percentages compare to coed institutions.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Wellesley's Scorecard peers include Amherst (ROI 90), Washington and Lee (ROI 91), Colby (ROI 94), and Hamilton (ROI 89). Wellesley matches Colby on ROI score (both 94) and leads Amherst (90) and Hamilton (89). On payback period, Wellesley (4.9 yr) is slower than Washington and Lee (3.9 yr) and Colby (4.6 yr), but much of that gap reflects Wellesley's higher share of students entering graduate programs. Median debt ($10,000) is the lowest in the group -- lower than Amherst ($13,740), Colby ($19,157), Hamilton ($17,000), and Washington and Lee ($19,500). Wellesley's 21% Pell rate is the highest among this group of selective LACs, reflecting a financial aid model that intentionally enrolls higher-need students.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellesley College (this school) | 94 | $25,496 | $84,803 |
| Barnard College | 90 | $28,800 | $80,516 |
| Scripps College | 78 | $36,294 | $77,539 |
| Bryn Mawr College | 74 | $31,759 | $75,217 |
| Smith College | 73 | $27,579 | $64,027 |
| Simmons University | 72 | $25,265 | $63,494 |
Who Thrives Here
Wellesley admits 14% of applicants, with a mid-range of SAT 730-790 Math and 730-770 Reading; ACT 33-35. With a 21% Pell rate and $10,000 median debt, the school's financial aid reaches students who would otherwise be priced out of elite liberal arts. Students who thrive here are intellectually independent, goal-directed, and at peace with a women's college environment. Economics and Computer Science graduates see the strongest immediate earnings outcomes. Students entering humanities can expect lower early earnings that may recover significantly at 10 years (median 10-year earnings are $84,803) -- Wellesley's graduate school placement rates are relevant context that the Scorecard does not capture.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Wellesley College is one of the strongest financial investments in higher education. With a total 4-year net cost of $101,984 and median graduate earnings of $84,803 ten years out, the math works decisively in graduates' favor. The estimated payback period of 4.9 years is well below average.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 91.5% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $10,000 is very manageable against $84,803 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.