Smith College

About Smith College

Smith College is a private women’s liberal arts college in Northampton MA, though their graduate and certificate programs are co-ed. It’s also one of the largest independent colleges in the United States, which means they do not receive federal, state, or local funding. Founded in 1871, their first class included only 14 students. Today, they serve more than two thousand students, and have remained committed to providing higher education to women for more than 140 years.

Type of Institution

4 yr

Private not-for-profit

Tuition Range

Over $35K

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

9:1

Financial Aid Percent

68%

Graduation Rate

88%

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Tuition

Range shown below is based on In-state tuition and does not include any external costs such as housing, books, etc.

Estimate Tuition Range

$$$$.................................. $0 - $15,000
$$$$.................................. $15,001 - $25,000
$$$$.................................. $25,001 - $35,000
$$$$.................................. $35,001 or above

Financial Aid Percent

Includes students receiving Federal work study aid as well as aid from pell grants,federal grants, scholarships, and other sources of financial aid.

Why Consider Smith College?

Smith College is known for a lot of things—the quality of the education, the accomplishments of their alumni, their beautiful campus, just to name a few. So you might not need a lot of convincing about whether it’s worth applying. Women come from all over the world to earn a degree at Smith College, and you could become part of that community, too. You could earn the degree you want, while growing as a person, making a difference, and forging new and lasting friendships. Here are just a few of the reasons why you might be considering Smith.

The Track Record

As a Smith Grad, you could join the ranks of the greats. Smith alumni have a history of accomplishment, and if you want to continue that legacy, the first step is submitting your application. Smith alumni have made their marks as authors, doctors, scientists, politicians, and activists. Just a few of the many notable Smith Alumni include:

Otelia Cromwell, the first African American woman awarded a degree from Yale
Julia Child, “The French Chef”
Madeleine L’engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time
Sylvia Plath, author of The Bell Jar
Betty Friedman, author of The Feminine Mystique
Margaret Edson, Pulitzer-winning playwright
Victoria Chan Palay, neurobiologist and Olympian
Two first ladies (Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan)
Eunice Hunton Carter, the first black woman to become a District Attorney in New York
Florence Rena Sabin, the first woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Ng’endo Mwangi, the first female physician in Kenya
Martha Euphemia Lofton Haynes, the first African American woman to earn her PhD in mathematics

The Rankings & Reputation

If the achievements of Smith College alumni aren’t enough, consider making your decision by the numbers. Smith College is known for its quality and value, and has been recognized multiple times over the years for it. Take, for example, the rankings and recognition awarded to Smith College in 2018 from sources like The Princeton Review and US News & World Report:

The Best 382 Colleges (Princeton Review)
Best Northeastern (The Princeton Review)
Colleges That Create Futures (The Princeton Review)
Colleges That Pay You Back (The Princeton Review)
Green Colleges (The Princeton Review)
#16 in Best Schools for Internships (The Princeton Review)
#12 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (US News & World Report)
#18 in Best Value Schools (US News & World Report)
#14 in Engineering Programs where no doctorate is offered (US News & World Reports)

The Unique Vibe

The Smith community is unlike any other. Everything from the unique housing—these are anything but your typical dorms—to the diverse and driven students, faculty and staff, to Pioneer Valley as a whole, all come together to make Smith the home it is to the people who live, work and study there. First, the housing. Instead of dorms, Smith houses its students in any of 35 beautiful houses, ranging in architectural styles from gothic to modern—and each one a unique community unto itself. As a graduate student, you may be able to live on campus or off, according to your lifestyle, needs and preferences. Of course, the housing is only a small slice of what makes Smith great. There’s also the diversity, equity, and the sense of inclusion that pervades all they do. The office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality is committed to fostering a welcoming environment no matter your belief system or background. And each and every one of those students could get involved in a range of activities and organizations dedicated to pursuing passion, enriching the community, or making a difference.

The Experiential Learning

At Smith College, learning happens in and out of the classroom. You could not only study theory and research and engage in classroom debates, but also apply that knowledge in the real-world. This hands-on experience could be valuable not just to contextualize learning, but also potentially to build out your resume. For example, Smith College has robust experiential learning opportunities, especially in the realm of sustainability and social and community engagement. Want something a little more professional? The Center for Career Development may be able to help you find and apply to that internship you’ve been looking for.

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Mission, Vision and Values

Smith College was founded with a central mission in mind: to provide women with the education and opportunity they need to reach (or even exceed) their potential. Through their liberal arts approach, they combine research, scholarship, and practical experience to help students become leaders in their communities and engaged global citizens.

The graduate application process at Smith College varies depending on the program you plan to attend. Generally, applicants need to hold a bachelor’s degree and show a high caliber undergraduate academic record. Often, this degree should be related to the graduate program you’re applying to, but that could vary depending on the program. A few common application requirements include:

Three letters of recommendation: Depending on the program, you might need to get these from certain sources
Your Resume or CV
Writing Sample: This might be something like a research paper you’ve written as an undergrad
A statement of purpose
Test Scores: Some programs may ask for GRE scores. If you’re an international student, you might also need TOEFL or IELTS scores

Enrollment, Attendance, Retention Rates and Graduation

Smith College has a total graduate enrollment of 397

Graduate attendance rate of 6% part-time and 94% full-time

For the years 2017-2018 Smith College awarded: 632 bachelor's degrees, 143 master's degrees, 9 doctor's degrees - research/scholarship

Financial Aid

Need a little bit of help covering your Smith College tuition and finance your graduate education? You’re not alone. Plenty of Smith grad students rely on aid of some kind of help mitigate those costs. In many cases, particularly federal and state-based graduate financial aid—awards are decided based on the information on your FAFSA. Other merit-based options may also be available if you apply, qualify, and are selected. These could include scholarships and graduate fellowships, which often entail teaching undergraduate courses in exchange for a stipend.

Smith College is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Other organizations that have accredited specific graduate programs at Smith include:

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NCACE)
The Council on Social Work Education

To find out about the accreditation status of these or other programs, reach out to the school or your selected department.

Campus Locations

Northampton MA 01063 Elm St
Smith College: Northampton, MA
Elm St, Northampton, MA, 01063

Smith College offers masters degrees in six subject areas: a MSW in social work, MFA in playwriting, MFA in dance, MS in Biological Sciences, and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), which may specialize in elementary, middle, or high school. Additionally, the School for Social Work offers a PhD program. Non-degree seeking students may also apply to a post-baccalaureate interdisciplinary studies diploma program.

Program Spotlight: PhD in Social Work

The PhD in Social Work program at Smith College combines clinical practice with theory and scholarship, helping students prepare to advance social work practice, promote social justice in their communities, and contribute to the body of research in the field. Students may study topics like psychological theory, health policy, oppressed populations, research methods, data analysis, and trauma. The PhD in Social Work curriculum utilizes a block plan, meaning that classroom study alternates with practical or field experience. Students complete both clinical internships and research internships, which helps to expose them to both potential applications of social work doctoral study. Clinical internships are often completed at the student’s place of employment. The program culminates in a dissertation. To apply to the Smith College Social Work PhD program, you will likely need to show that you’ve earned an MSW degree and have post-masters practice experience, in addition to a strong academic record.