Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at Wellesley

88.49%

Applicants - since 2015

-15.80%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at Wellesley over the past 10 years is 19.96%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 14.05%. Wellesley is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 46.67%, and the 2025 yield is 47.63%. Overall, the yield has increased by 10.47% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of Wellesley applicants increased by 6.48% (530 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 88.49% overall.

Key Takeaways: Wellesley Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 14.05%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Wellesley has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 47.63%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Wellesley is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Wellesley and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, Wellesley received approximately 8,714 applications, admitted 1,224 students, and enrolled 583 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Wellesley is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

Wellesley 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Wellesley over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 19.96%, while the most recent rate stands at 14.05%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 14.05%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Wellesley have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 29.85% 0.00% 29.85%
2016-17 28.60%
-1.26%
0.00% 28.60%
-1.26%
2017-18 22.08%
-6.52%
0.00% 22.08%
-6.52%
2018-19 19.54%
-2.53%
0.00% 19.54%
-2.53%
2019-20 21.56%
2.02%
0.00% 21.56%
2.02%
2020-21 20.41%
-1.16%
0.00% 20.41%
-1.16%
2021-22 16.00%
-4.41%
0.00% 16.00%
-4.41%
2022-23 13.57%
-2.43%
0.00% 13.57%
-2.43%
2023-24 13.91%
0.34%
0.00% 13.91%
0.34%
2024-25 14.05%
0.14%
0.00% 14.05%
0.14%
Average 19.96% 0.00% 19.96%
Wellesley College Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

Wellesley has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 43.12% in 2015 to 47.63% in 2025, representing a 10.47% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 46.67%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Wellesley from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 10.47% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 43.12% 0.00% 43.12%
2016-17 42.51%
-0.61%
0.00% 42.51%
-0.61%
2017-18 48.36%
5.85%
0.00% 48.36%
5.85%
2018-19 47.38%
-0.98%
0.00% 47.38%
-0.98%
2019-20 44.38%
-3.00%
0.00% 44.38%
-3.00%
2020-21 43.19%
-1.19%
0.00% 43.19%
-1.19%
2021-22 49.02%
5.83%
0.00% 49.02%
5.83%
2022-23 50.78%
1.76%
0.00% 50.78%
1.76%
2023-24 50.35%
-0.43%
0.00% 50.35%
-0.43%
2024-25 47.63%
-2.72%
0.00% 47.63%
-2.72%
Average 46.67% 0.00% 46.67%
Wellesley College enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 6,780, the average number of admitted is 1,278, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 594.

The number of Wellesley applicants increased by 6.48% (530 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 88.49% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Wellesley College from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 4,623 1,380 595
2016-17 4,854
5.00%
1,388
0.58%
590
-0.84%
2017-18 5,666
16.73%
1,251
-9.87%
605
2.54%
2018-19 6,631
17.03%
1,296
3.60%
614
1.49%
2019-20 6,395
-3.56%
1,379
6.40%
612
-0.33%
2020-21 6,581
2.91%
1,343
-2.61%
580
-5.23%
2021-22 7,663
16.44%
1,226
-8.71%
601
3.62%
2022-23 8,491
10.81%
1,152
-6.04%
585
-2.66%
2023-24 8,184
-3.62%
1,138
-1.22%
573
-2.05%
2024-25 8,714
6.48%
1,224
7.56%
583
1.75%
Average 6,780 1,278 594
Wellesley College - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Wellesley College' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Wellesley College13.91%14.05%1.01%
Smith College21.00%19.73%6.44%
Boston University11.11%10.85%2.40%
Northeastern University5.22%5.65%-7.61%
Harvard University3.65%3.45%5.80%
Boston College16.43%15.65%4.98%

Ratings & Review

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