Smith College
#16 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
Overview
Smith College is a private institution that was founded in 1871. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,523 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 147 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Smith College's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #16. Its tuition and fees are $61,568.
Smith College is located in Northampton, Massachusetts, about two hours from Boston and three hours from New York City. Smith is one of the largest liberal arts schools for women in the country. The school has more than 100 student organizations, which range from Smithies in Computer Science to Crapapella, one of several a cappella groups on campus. The Smith Pioneers have 12 NCAA Division III varsity sports that compete in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference. Unlike many other schools, Smith does not have dorms or Greek life but rather 35 separate houses that range from Gothic to modern in style. Each house is home to between 10 and 100 students, allowing for socialization among students from all classes.
Smith is part of the Five Colleges consortium, which includes Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts—Amherst. Smith is also part of the Seven Sisters colleges, a group of seven northeastern liberal arts schools that were originally for women. Smith’s graduate programs are coeducational and offer master’s degrees and a doctoral program. Traditional events on campus include Rally Day, which celebrates alumnae and students, and Otelia Cromwell Day, which honors Smith’s first African-American graduate. Commencement traditions include Ivy Day, during which seniors plant ivy on campus to represent the connection between Smith and its graduates, and Illumination Night, when the campus is lit with colored paper lanterns. Notable alumnae include activist Gloria Steinem, chef and author Julia Child, poet and author Sylvia Plath, former first lady Nancy Reagan and Tammy Baldwin, a U.S. senator for Wisconsin.
Smith College is a private institution that was founded in 1871. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,523 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 147 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Smith College's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #16. Its tuition and fees are $61,568.
Smith College is located in Northampton, Massachusetts, about two hours from Boston and three hours from New York City. Smith is one of the largest liberal arts schools for women in the country. The school has more than 100 student organizations, which range from Smithies in Computer Science to Crapapella, one of several a cappella groups on campus. The Smith Pioneers have 12 NCAA Division III varsity sports that compete in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference. Unlike many other schools, Smith does not have dorms or Greek life but rather 35 separate houses that range from Gothic to modern in style. Each house is home to between 10 and 100 students, allowing for socialization among students from all classes.
Smith is part of the Five Colleges consortium, which includes Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts—Amherst. Smith is also part of the Seven Sisters colleges, a group of seven northeastern liberal arts schools that were originally for women. Smith’s graduate programs are coeducational and offer master’s degrees and a doctoral program. Traditional events on campus include Rally Day, which celebrates alumnae and students, and Otelia Cromwell Day, which honors Smith’s first African-American graduate. Commencement traditions include Ivy Day, during which seniors plant ivy on campus to represent the connection between Smith and its graduates, and Illumination Night, when the campus is lit with colored paper lanterns. Notable alumnae include activist Gloria Steinem, chef and author Julia Child, poet and author Sylvia Plath, former first lady Nancy Reagan and Tammy Baldwin, a U.S. senator for Wisconsin.
+ Show More
At-a-Glance
Setting
Suburban
Tuition & Fees
$61,568
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,523
Acceptance Rate
23%
2024 Rankings
Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.
My Fit Score
My Fit Custom College Ranking
Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now
Admissions
Cost
Tuition & Fees
$61,568
Room & Board
$21,310(2023-24)
Average Need-Based Aid Package
$59,570
$29,814
$29,814
Tuition & Fees
$61,568
Room & Board
$21,310(2023-24)
Average Need-Based Aid Package
$59,570
*Average cost after aid
Academics
83%
8:1
69%
Popular Majors
MAJOR
% OF GRADUATES
ALUMNI STARTING SALARY
Political Science and Government, General
10%
N/A
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
6%
N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
6%
N/A
Computer Science
5%
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
5%
N/A
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
|
* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.
Pick the Perfect Major
Discover the perfect major for you based on your innate wiring. The Innate Assessment sets you up for success by pairing you with majors, colleges and careers that fit your unique skills and abilities.
Students
2,523
Graduate Enrollment
350
Total Enrollment
2,873
Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students
2,510
Student Diversity
Gender Distribution
Ethnic Diversity
33%
Minority Enrollment
33%
Minority Enrollment
51%
White
14%
International
12%
Hispanic
10%
Asian
6%
Two or more races
5%
Black
2%
Unknown
Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.
Campus Life
Housing and Dorms
Types of campus housing available:
Student Activities
25+
Sports Teams
N/A
Fraternities
N/A
Sororities
After College
Graduation Rate
83%
Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)
55%
Average Debt at Graduation
$19,595
$31,795
$31,795
Graduation Rate
83%
Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)
55%
Average Debt at Graduation
$19,595
Reviews & Ratings
See reviews and ratings of this school from students, alumni, staff and others. These reviews are not written by U.S. News and have no impact on any of the Best Colleges rankings. Read an explanation of user ratings.
Read More
Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.
More from This School
More from This School
My Fit Score
My Fit Custom College Ranking
Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now
Top Schools in Massachusetts
You can compare up to 25 schools at a time. Please remove a school before adding another.