Key Takeaways:
- Smith has been at the forefront of higher education since its founding in 1871. It’s one of the largest privately endowed women’s colleges in the United States.
- The student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1. This ratio allows students to interact with their professors both in and out of the classroom, and to receive personalized attention.
- Smith College offers over 1,000 courses in 83 areas of study.
- The admissions process at Smith is very selective, with only a 23% acceptance rate. The graduation rate is 86%.
Smith College Degrees and Programs
Smith College appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Colleges for Young Democrats.
Students who enroll at Smith College have more than 50 areas of study available in subjects like the arts, mathematics, the social sciences, history, and the natural sciences. Students can choose from several majors and minors, as well as concentrations within those programs and a handful of special programs for executive study, pre-college classes, and graduate study.
Featured Programs
Some of the diverse degree focuses available at Smith College include Africana Studies, Biochemistry, Dance, and Engineering. Students can also study English Language & Literature, German Studies, Latin American Studies, or Neuroscience, as well as many other topics. Within those and other degrees, students can concentrate on interesting areas like poetry, book studies, translation studies, and climate change.
One of the popular options at Smith College is the pre-college program that allows high school students to attend classes during the summer. The program accepts around 250 students each year between the grades of nine and 12 in high school. Some of the pre-college classes include the College Admission Workshop, the Field Studies for Sustainable Futures class, the Discovery Women’s History class, and the Summer Science & Engineering Program.
Additional special programs available at the university include a handful of global, faculty-led experiences, some accelerated master’s programs, and Five College majors and certificate programs. Areas available for accelerated programs include architecture, food science, political science, and statistics. Students can also enter accelerated programs in economics, linguistics, and public policy.
Enhancing degree programs at Smith College is easy with the many minors available for study that include topics like ethics, Buddhist studies, and astronomy. Additional minors are available in theatre, religion, music, medieval studies, women & gender studies, and statistical & data sciences.
Graduate study at Smith College means choosing one of six programs that include the Master of Science in Biological Sciences, the Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Studies, or the Master of Arts in Teaching. Graduate students can also pursue a Master of Social Work, a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting, or a Master of Fine Arts in Dance.
The sole doctoral program at Smith College is the Ph.D. of Social Work, and graduate students can also enroll in three non-degree studies options that include the mathematics post-baccalaureate program, an interdisciplinary studies diploma program, or a series of summer education courses for teachers.
About Smith College
Smith College is a private liberal arts college in the city of Northampton, Massachusetts. The college’s undergraduate programs are available to women, and the graduate programs are available to men and women. The college is part of the Seven Sisters group of schools and is a member of the Five Colleges Consortium. The consortium allows students to take classes within different institutions. The college has around 2,900 students attending classes.
The college’s official color is blue with gold trim, and the school’s sports teams are nicknamed the Pioneers. They play in NCAA Division III games within the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference. The school was founded in 1871 through a monetary donation from Sophia Smith, and it opened for classes in 1875 with a total of 14 students. By the time 1915 arrived, the college had more than 1,700 students enrolled with more than 160 faculty members.
Smith College Accreditation Details
The New England Commission of Higher Education is the regional accreditation body for Smith College. Accreditation ensures that students can take classes at the university and transfer those credits between other accredited institutions, as well as qualify for financial aid through the federal government’s financial aid program. In addition, several programs at the university are accredited by various agencies.
One of those agencies is the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation, which has accredited the program in social work. Another agency to have accredited programs at the university is the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, which has accredited the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science at Smith College.
Smith College Application Requirements
Students who apply to Smith College will do so as first-year applicants, international applicants, or transfer applicants. Students may also apply as graduate students. During the application process, students will have their academic performance, the potential for success, and life experiences examined. Two members of the admission staff read all applications to the school.
Students who want to apply as freshmen should ensure they take at least four years of English, three years of a foreign language, three years of lab science, two years of history, and three years of mathematics while in high school. Some students are eligible to apply to Smith College before they officially graduate from high school, and home school students are eligible, too.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for undergraduate students who attend Smith College is $53,940 per year, and room & board charges are $18,130. Students will also pay a student activities fee of $284 and a student health insurance fee of $2,274. In all, undergraduate students will pay an estimated $74,628 to attend Smith College. Graduate students who enroll at Smith College will pay a rate according to the program they enter.
For example, M.A.T. tuition is $16,000 for 12 or more credits per semester, and part-time tuition for the M.A.T. program is $8,000 for eight to 11 credits. Students who enroll in a Master of Fine Arts program will pay $53,940 for tuition for 16 or more credits per semester. Various Master of Science degrees vary from $27,040 to $40,560 in cost. There are also various fees for programs like a health insurance fee, tuition fee, and application fee that students may need to pay.
Students who require financial aid to pay for tuition and costs at Smith College will work with Student Financial Services during the financial aid application process. Prospective students should submit their FAFSA form to qualify for financial aid through government loans, institutional sources, and the state government. Students can contact the school for advice on their financial aid application and for details on paying for college.
Students are encouraged to explore available scholarships through the government, state, and institution and may qualify for merit aid at the time of admission. Available scholarships at Smith College may come in the form of the Dora Windes Zollman Scholarship, a STRIDE Scholarship, or the Smith Presidential Scholarship.