Founded in 1871, Smith College. is a Private college. Located in Massachusetts, which is a city setting in Massachusetts, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 2,514 full time undergraduate students, and 382 full time graduate students.
The Smith College Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 9:1. There are 309 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Smith College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
37%
Application Deadline
15-Nov
Application Fee
0
SAT Range
ACT Range
Admissions at are considered More Selective, with ,36% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 12 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
99% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 90% were in the top quarter, and 66% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Smith College.
2%
“We”re apathetic”
8%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
40%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
1%
“We save it for the classroom”
8%
“Sometimes, but not often”
41%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
50%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
3%
“I only go out in groups”
28%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
68%
“I feel extremely safe”
59%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
40%
“We bought the gear”
1%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
13%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
63%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
21%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
48%
“They keep regular office hours”
50%
“They”re always available”
92%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
5%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
1%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
1%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
26%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
64%
“We only party on weekends”
8%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
3%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
69%
“There might be people who do”
24%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
3%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
2%
“We”re apathetic”
8%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
40%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
1%
“We save it for the classroom”
8%
“Sometimes, but not often”
41%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
50%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
3%
“I only go out in groups”
28%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
68%
“I feel extremely safe”
59%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
40%
“We bought the gear”
1%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
13%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
63%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
21%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
48%
“They keep regular office hours”
50%
“They”re always available”
92%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
5%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
1%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
1%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
92 Students rated on-campus housing 4.6 stars. 63 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
45 Students rated off-campus housing 2.6 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
91 Students rated campus food 3.7 stars. 29 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
92 Students rated campus facilities 4.3 stars. 51 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
92 Students rated class size 4.6 stars. 64 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
92 Students rated school activities 4.2 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
91 Students rated local services 4.2 stars. 53 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
92 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.
Smith College REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Smith College?
27 Students rated Smith College
Blair
It is a wonderful college where the entire staff and students care so deeply about the school. You will never meet someone at Smith who does not love it. There is a strong sense of school pride, but in an atypical way. Not in a way where people are so excited for the football game, but in a way that everyone is dedicated to loving the school and treats it with the utmost care.
Ingrid
Do not go to Smith. My experience with this college was hellish. They do not care about student experience. Their concern is solely with the image and funding of the college. They gatekeep resources from students, disregard student concerns, and blame them for issues. Optics is the only concern. Professors are hit or miss, and many take themselves/the college far too seriously. Elitism and condescension are rampant, both within the student body and from the administration. Communication between offices is abysmal. It seems like nobody actually knows college policy until the damage is done and there’s a way to put the onus of an issue on the student. You fend for yourself, and god forbid you have mental health issues. The college sees you as a liability and will work as hard as they can to push you away rather than help you. The students are vitriolic towards each other and play the “oppression olympics” for social status. Do not attend this institution. Definitely not worth going into crippling debt for an insular, holier-than-thou institution working just towards profit. They treat staff terribly too.
Jiayun
Smith College as an all-women identifying liberal arts college provides students with a well-rounded education in both humanities and STEM. Students are encouraged to explore courses outside of their major requirements. Smith provides an open-curriculum for students to explore their various interests from major, minors, the concentration of studies, and through the Five College Consortium. What makes Smith College unique is the supportive environment between the students themselves and with the professors. Students form study groups and collaborate with others to study and work on projects. Professors are always available in-office hours, after and before classes, and through email to meet with students. My favorite aspect of Smith College is the availability of research opportunities opened for undergraduate students to gain experience in various fields of studies, from the study of women and gender to the sciences. These unique opportunities allow students to gain experience through research, which provides a different aspect of learning outside of traditional classroom settings.
Ruth
Smith College is a unique and wonderful institution. The students are very politically engaged, and it is possible to find a great diversity of opinion and life experience anywhere on campus. The classes are small, and the professors are always ready to help with a research idea or just have a conversation one-on-one.
Nina
Smith is the best place in the world. Anyone would be lucky to go here. I never expected to find a college that felt like home, but I find myself getting "home"-sick during breaks. The people and houses are AMAZING and I love all of my professors. Every department seems to care about each individual student.
Ayla
I love it! At Smith, I am given the freedom to be myself and to explore whatever interests (academic or not) that I might have. Most professors are incredibly nice and knowledgeable and are willing to speak to students one-on-one. It is a lot of work, but the things I have been learning have made it all worth it.
C
If you want a small school with a tight knit community and a vast range of opportunities, Smith might be the place for you. I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I came here (except that I didn't want to take STEM classes), but thanks to the open curriculum I've gotten to explore a lot of interesting subjects (including a physics class that's now one of my faves lol). There's not a lot to do here on the weekends (the nearby town is really cute but it's expensive and spans roughly 3 blocks), but if you're into bigger parties you could always hit up Umass with other Smithies. The academics can vary, but all professors are accessible and are good, helpful people, if not always fantastic educators. The house systems and all the school run activities make it easy to make friends, but it's easy to feel entrapped in the "Smith bubble" sometimes. I think the best thing about Smith, though, is how easy it is to access so many great resources. There's tons of grants you can apply to for summer language study or for travelling to attend conferences or even to buy winter clothes if you're from a warmer climate. The writing center and work centers always have people to help you with your essay or resume, and people in your house are great resources. Granted, there are still problems (the counselling services are understaffed and some students have strong opinions on certain people who ARE on the staff), campus police can be unhelpful or unfriendly, and like any school Smith has its flaws. Overall though, I think it's a good school that has the potential to be whatever you make of it.
Melissa
I think it provides a high level of education, with plenty of opportunities for student activism. Smith is academically stressful, but the community here is invaluable. And the community of alums is the same. I feel so incredibly lucky to have so many connections quite literally all over the world because of Smith.
Khue
Campus is pretty, faculty are good, facilities are good, and Smith provides a lot of financial aid. The college as an institution is great. But the students here are the worst. I write from the perspective of a woman of color who attended Smith on financial aid because my parents were poor. My classmates were mostly white women from middle class/wealthy backgrounds who were extremely angry, militant, and bullish for no reason. If your opinions don't fit under the extreme left progressive umbrella, don't bother expressing them, because you will get shouted down and called racist, ignorant, ableist, or whatever epithet is convenient. While students claim to embrace diversity, there is no diversity of thought or of politics on campus. Everyone mostly parrots each others' radical views. When not talking politics, students mostly talked about themselves. "I got into Harvard but decided to come here." "I scored xxx on the SATs and got into all the Ivies." Students here are very self-centered and entitled.
J
Smith has its ups and downs. A good thing is that you’re supported by many people to discover who you are and your major, if needed. Something to watch out for is that adminstration can be a bit slow to change, so it’s important to remain persistent in holding them accountable. However, you will have people who will support you, especially with many students.
Karena
Smith College is a great place to receive a higher education. It can be comforting and inspirational to be surrounded by people that are like minded and equally as ambitious. I have encountered many genuine people and even more people willing to help.
Isabel
An incredible school with innumerable opportunities. Praxis, for example, pays you to do a summer internship anywhere you choose. Faculty are leaders in their field and love working with students. An accepting and safe community of students who support one another. A strong emphasis on social justice.
Maeve
I have had a wonderful first semester and I am looking forward to my many years to come. Smith students are provided with a unique opportunity to explore who they in a safe, diverse environment. The acceptance all students receive on campus is an outstanding aspect of the atmosphere.
Emma
Smith College is a top-tier women's college with a beautiful and quiet valley campus just on the edge of Northampton. I had mixed feelings throughout my first semester because though I was always happy to be there I wasn't always happy there. Because the school attracts a niche group of hyper-feminist left-wing students, most students get along well-enough and are very passionate about their school. The academics are good but it is a little tricky to understand how Smith is a top-tier school based on the difficulty level of the classes and student engagement. I am looking forward to applying myself more next semester and getting more involved with the Smith arts scene- it is small but growing! We have a wonderful slam poetry team too.
Julissa
Smith College in terms of its academics is on par with some of the best colleges and universities in the country. However, it is still a predominantly white institution and while students here tend to be more progressive, that does not mean everyone is and this goes for faculty as well. Smith has yet to divest. That being said, there are many good aspects. The school opened its doors to Puerto Rico relief victims in the aftermath of the natural disaster.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Smith College is 37%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
There are A LOT of lesbians here. And a lot of feminists. And there may be a lot of amluns who are married to powerful men, but only because they, themselves, are powerful.
What is the stereotype of students at your school?
The big stereotype is that all Smithies are hipster lesbians. Other stereotypes are that they are work obsessed and extremely politically correct, and easily offended.
I'm a philosophy major, and the department is fantastic. It's pretty big, considering how small the school is. The professors are friendly, they make an effort to get to know the majors. And all of us students talk and are friendly. There's a lot of camaraderie in the department. And if you're interested in philosophy, you should REALLY consider a women's college like Smith. I can promise you that all your philosophy classes at coed schools will be totally dominated by men.
I have had a lot of academic conversations outside of the classroom, but it's certainly not all we do. You'll have discussions about other things, too.
I love Smith. Love love love. I tranferred here and I couldn't be happier. A lot of people are nervous about going to a women's college-- and it's true, it's not for everyone. Don't convince yourself it will be just like a coed school because of the five college system: it's not. But for a lot of people, a women's college is the best thing that could happen to them. I, for one, love it. As a woman, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
If you're gay, this is the school for you! A great dating scene! If you're straight, you really have to be outgoing and work at it to meet guys.
The house system is amazing. I'm very close with the people in my house-- we eat together, hang out together, everything. Most of my friends live with me.
Smith gets a lot of really great speakers, and the talks are well attended. Parties are pretty tame and end really early, but they're relaxed and fun if you don't expect too much out of them. In my experience, there's a lot of weed and drinking, but I think it depends on where you live (some areas of campus (Green St.) are known for being more quiet). There won't be wild parties, but if you like chilling with friends, I think the Smith social scene is fun.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Finding the right college is about understanding who you are as a college-seeking student. A campus overnight should be considered an integral part of any college search for those universities under serious consideration in order to find the right "fit." Once in college, it is important to make the most of the experience. Although you are ultimately paying for an education, it is important to understand that much of your education takes place outside the classroom. It may be useful not to put academics on the top of your list of priorities at the beginning of your college adventure and get a taste for other campus activities and friendships that are waiting to happen. Chances are you chose a college for more than just academics, so get out there and experience as much as you can early!
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
It's a women's college that encourages independent thought from women who deserve the opportunity to opperate in a community without restraints based on their gender, race, sexual orientation or anything else that may be used to identify them elsewhere.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing about my school would have to be its lack of men. Being around all women is very freeing and even relaxing, but I miss their input on certain subject and arguing.
The best thing about Smith is the information about life that you learn outside of class. At Smith there are some amazing women that you are able to meet from all over the world. Everyone has there own story and you are able to learn from them in ways you couldn't imagine if you did not have the opportunity.
My college is best known for the academic vigor and strong skills each student posesses. Whether dedicated to the arts or sciences, the students here become masters of their trade.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
The stereotype of students at Smith is that everyone is a lesbian. While every definition of one's sexuality and gender is accepted, by no means is the whole school comprised of all one type of person. The atmosphere we have here facilitates acceptance of all people. For those of us who identify as straight it's more of a lesson in inclusivity.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
72% of students attending Smith College receive some sort of financial aid.
19% were awarded federal grants.47%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
