Smith College vs Hampshire College

Smith College and Hampshire College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions in Massachusetts, offer distinct educational experiences. Smith, a women's college, boasts a lower acceptance rate (28%) compared to Hampshire's (49%). While Smith's student body is predominantly female, Hampshire's is more gender-balanced. In terms of academics, Smith excels in social sciences and psychology, while Hampshire is known for its strengths in interdisciplinary studies and creative writing. Both colleges share a commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity and preparing students for success in their chosen fields. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two exceptional institutions. Explore the data and discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Hampshire College logo

Hampshire College

Smith College logo

Smith College

Overview

Location Amherst, Massachusetts Northampton, Massachusetts
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 72.0% 95.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 75.1% 29.9%
Application fees $60
SAT range N/A 1370 - 1530
ACT range N/A 31 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 34.0%
Students submitting ACT score 20.0%
Total number of applicants 1,340 6,064
Total number of admissions given out 1,007 1,814
Admitted students who chose to enroll 133 676
Yield rate 13.2% 37.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $66,658 $68,128
Average net price $30,168 $29,569
Tuition $51,000 $55,830
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,520

Meal plan: $5,912
Room/dormitory: $9,700

Meal plan: $9,720
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $36,653
70.0%
Average amount $44,108
Students receiving federal student loan 64.0%
Average amount $4,793
35.0%
Average amount $3,560
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $8,793
5.0%
Average amount $8,280

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 472
Men 38.1% Women 61.9%
2,566
Men 0.1% Women 99.9%
Graduate students N/A 358
Men 16.2% Women 83.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 6.4% 13.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,180 2,519
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Mississippi New York California Connecticut Maryland

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • English Language and Literature
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 62.4% 91.0%
Dropout rate 37.3% 3.6%
Transferred out N/A 5.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,720
  • Year 2: $19,829
  • Year 3: $23,704
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,496
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $70,990
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $47,650
  • Year 3: $56,651
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,011
  • Year 2: $45,554
  • Year 3: $53,962
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $46,620
  • Year 3: $53,886
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,098
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $48,619
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,776
  • Year 2: $39,153
  • Year 3: $43,120
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $31,839
  • Year 3: $41,147
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,006
  • Year 2: $18,566
  • Year 3: $41,145
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,954
  • Year 2: $28,019
  • Year 3: $40,411
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $34,603
  • Year 3: $38,497

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