At $25,008/yr net price, Wellesley College graduates earn $84,803/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $50,803/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $25,008 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $100,032 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $84,803/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$50,803/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 91.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,695/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $634/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,511/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,314/yr |
| $110,001+ | $50,305/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $86,867 | $13,350 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $76,460 | $11,190 |
| History. | Bachelor | $41,937 | |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor | $38,289 | $7,860 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $38,289 | |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor | $36,852 | $11,820 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor | $36,312 | |
| Area Studies. | Bachelor | $34,420 | $9,600 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Bachelor | $33,993 | |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor | $33,281 | $10,152 |
The Risk Factor
91.2% of students at Wellesley College graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Wellesley College gives you a strong financial return, but only if you pick the right major. The median graduate earns about $85,000 ten years out while carrying just $10,000 in debt, one of the lower debt loads you'll find at a private four-year college. A 96% retention rate and 91% graduation rate mean you're very likely to finish, which matters because dropping out is the fastest way to turn tuition into a loss.
Your major decides everything here. Computer science and economics graduates clear $76,000 to $87,000, both well above the school median and both landing in the Boston-area tech and finance market that surrounds Wellesley. History, psychology, and neuroscience tell a different story, all clustering around $38,000 to $42,000. Neuroscience is the sharpest warning: it pays the same as psychology despite being a lab-heavy pre-med track, so unless you continue to graduate or medical school, that degree alone won't cover much ground.
The main financial risk is choosing a low-earning major at full price. The sticker cost hits over $50,000 a year if your family earns above $110,000, and a $38,000 salary won't justify that spend on its own.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families heavily. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay almost nothing, and the $30,000 to $48,000 bracket pays just $634 a year. The jump is steep after that: the $48,000 to $75,000 tier pays $15,511, and middle-income families in the $75,000 to $110,000 range pay over $24,000.
Wellesley is a strong fit if you qualify for high aid or plan to major in CS or economics. If your family pays full price and you're drawn to the humanities or psychology, weigh the cost carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wellesley College worth the high tuition cost?
Wellesley graduates earn $84,803 ten years after graduation with relatively low debt at $10,000 median. The strong financial aid brings net costs down to $25,008 annually, making the ROI reasonable for a selective liberal arts college.
What are the best paying majors at Wellesley College?
Computer science leads at $86,867 in early career earnings, followed by economics at $76,460. Liberal arts majors like history and psychology average much lower at around $40,000.
How much debt do Wellesley College students graduate with?
The median debt is just $10,000, well below the national average. Wellesley's strong endowment allows for generous financial aid that keeps most students from heavy borrowing.
Does Wellesley College provide good financial aid?
Yes, the average net price is $25,008 despite a sticker price over $60,000. The college meets 100% of demonstrated need, though families earning above $125,000 typically pay significantly more.