Is Wellesley test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1500 and hold it if it's under.

What is Wellesley's acceptance rate?

14% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 1,224 of 8,714 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 88%, from 4,623 in 2015 to 8,714 in 2024, and Wellesley's admit rate went from 30% to 14%.

What ACT score do you need for Wellesley?

18% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 33–35, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1460–1540 works out to about 33–35.

Why might Wellesley's SAT range look high?

Only 44% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Wellesley?

29% of early decision applicants were admitted (301 of 1,023), against 14% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Wellesley?

59 of the 1,121 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 5.3%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Wellesley? (Middle 50%: 1460–1540)

First-year students at Wellesley who sent an SAT scored 1460–1540, with a median of 1500 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Wellesley admits 14% of applicants and is test optional.

Wellesley College · Wellesley, MA

Where your score lands at Wellesley

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1460–1540, median 1500

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Wellesley is for you and whether to send your score.

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Wellesley by the numbers

Admit rate: 14%
Middle 50% SAT: 1460–1540
Median SAT: 1500
About on the ACT: 33–35
Sent an SAT: 44%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Wellesley admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Wellesley admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 88%, from 4,623 in 2015 to 8,714 in 2024, and Wellesley's admit rate went from 30% to 14%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	8,714	1,224	14%
2023	8,184	1,138	14%
2022	8,491	1,152	14%
2021	7,663	1,240	16%
2020	6,581	1,343	20%
2019	6,395	1,379	22%
2018	6,631	1,296	20%
2017	5,666	1,251	22%
2016	4,854	1,388	29%
2015	4,623	1,380	30%

In fall 2024, 583 of the 1,224 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Wellesley

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1410Far reachHold
1410–1490ReachHold
1500 and upReachSend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Wellesley SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	720	770	790
SAT Reading and Writing	730	750	760
SAT total	1460	1500	1540
ACT composite	33	34	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 44% sent an SAT and 18% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Top 10% of their class: 88%; of new students who reported a rank

Wellesley early decision and waitlist

Early decision

301 of 1,023 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision29%
All applicants14%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

2,214 applicants were offered a spot, 1,121 took it, and 59 were admitted from it.

5.3%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Wellesley cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $25,496; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 92%
Median earnings: $84,803; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 2,501

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Wellesley

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Wellesley Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Wellesley admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Wellesley website
Wellesley College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1460–1540, and the median was 1500. At 1500 or higher you're above half of them. Wellesley admits 14% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$