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Wellesley Admission Requirements

Wellesley, Massachusetts

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Your chances of getting into Wellesley College

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

13.6%
Admission Difficulty for Wellesley College
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Elite 
Applicant Competition Very High 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Wellesley is 13.6%.  Its admission rate is the 8th lowest in Massachusetts and the 53rd lowest the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Wellesley and can you get accepted?

Wellesley is a very highly competitive school to get into. You have a low chance of acceptance even if you meet the admission criteria. It's important that you meet their GPA requirements to get through the first round of consideration. Last year, only 1,152 out of the 8,491 who applied were admitted.

Wellesley College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.86. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. Of those applicants who were admitted, 51% enrolled. This indicates that the school is a top choice for many students who apply.

Can you get into Wellesley?

14% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

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Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Wellesley College you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.86 or better
  • Earn A- grades in high school
  • Score 1490 on the SAT
  • Score 34 on the ACT
  • Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class

Wellesley GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.86*

Typical High School Grades 

A-

What GPA do you need to get into Wellesley College?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Wellesley are to have around a 3.86 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough for you to gain admission as Wellesley is a very selective school.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Wellesley is 3.86 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #14 in Massachusetts for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Wellesley is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.86 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

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Wellesley SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Wellesley College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 38% of students submitted SAT scores and 20% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

1430-1550

Applicants Submitting SAT 

38%
SAT Scores for Wellesley College
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 720
Math 25th Percentile 710
Composite 25th Percentile 1430
SAT Scores for Wellesley College
SAT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 770
Math 75th Percentile 780
Composite 75th Percentile 1550
Average SAT Score 1490

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Wellesley College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Wellesley is 1490 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1430-1550. Students who get into Wellesley College score in the top 3 percent of all SAT test takers..  Wellesley ranks #7 in the state of Massachusetts and #35 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1490 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Wellesley regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1430 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1430, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1370, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Wellesley College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1490 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1490, you have around a 14% chance of being admitted. A 1550 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 24% chance of getting in.

Wellesley College admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1550 and Above Good >24%
1490 to 1550 Avg + 14%-24%
1430 to 1490 Avg - 8%-14%
1370 to 1430 Reach 4%-8%
Less than 1370 Low <4%
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Wellesley ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

33-35 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

20%
ACT Scores for Wellesley College
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 34
Math 25th Percentile 29
Composite 25th Percentile 33
ACT Scores for Wellesley College
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 35
Math 75th Percentile 34
Composite 75th Percentile 35
Average ACT Score 34

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Wellesley?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Wellesley is 34, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 33 and 35.  The school ranks #7 in Massachusetts and #18 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 34. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 33 and score in the score in the top 2 percent nationally.

20 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Wellesley College.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Wellesley College is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Wellesley for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 34 score has around 14% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 24% with a 35 ACT score.

Wellesley College admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
35 and Above Good >24%
34 to 35 Avg + 14%-24%
33 to 34 Avg - 8%-14%
32 to 33 Reach 4%-8%
Less than 32 Low <4%
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High School Class Rank

85% of Wellesley College freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Wellesley College students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 85%
Top 25% of class 100%
Top 50% of class 100%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Wellesley College admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 8,491 0 8,491
Accepted 1,152 0 1,152
Acceptance Rate 14% NaN 14%
Enrolled 585 0 585
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 51% NaN 51%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 8, 2025

Days left to Apply

96

Applicants have 96 days left until the Fall 2024 term applications are due on Jan 8, 2025.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Wellesley College is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Wellesley College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Wellesley College Application Requirements
Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
High School Class Rank Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies Not required for admission, but considered if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Wellesley College
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Wellesley is very highly competitive, you have a low likelihood of acceptance. It is important that you earn at least a 3.86 GPA to have a good shot at getting in. Additionally, you need to score a 1490 on the SAT and optimally 1550 to place yourself in a strong position. For ACT scores, you need a 34 to have a competitive chance of getting in.

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to Wellesley College often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=168218 IPEDS survey data for Wellesley College.

Last updated February 24, 2024

FAQs

Does Wellesley College prefer SAT or ACT?

38% of students submit their SAT scores to Wellesley. 20% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.

What is my chance of getting into Wellesley College?

14% of those who apply are granted admission to Wellesley. Admission competition is very high and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.

What SAT score is required for Wellesley College?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1430 and 1550. The average SAT score is 1490. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.

What ACT score is required for Wellesley College?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 33 and 35. The average ACT score is 34. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.