Smith College
Smith College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Smith College at a Glance
Smith College is a private liberal arts women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts, United States. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith and opened in 1875. It is a member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, a group of women's colleges in the Northeastern United States. Smith is also a member of the Five College Consortium with four other institutions in the Pioneer Valley: Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst; students …
1871
155 years old
$2.7B
$2.71 billion (2025)
2,915
2,500 undergrad · 337 grad
22%
Identity
How to Apply to Smith College
Official admissions pageNovember 15 (Early Decision)
2 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Interview
Is Smith College Worth It?
Smith College offers moderate value at $27,579/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $64,027, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 89% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 21% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
How Smith College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #8 of 24 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Grinnell College | 78 | $17,648 | $62,830 |
| #2 | Haverford College | 71 | $25,314 | $79,966 |
| #3 | Carleton College | 67 | $25,407 | $75,525 |
| #4 | Hamilton College | 62 | $28,985 | $78,411 |
| #5 | Wesleyan University | 56 | $30,177 | $73,897 |
| #6 | Bates College | 53 | $29,351 | $69,498 |
| #8 | Smith College | 52 | $27,579 | $64,027 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Smith College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Smith College
The highest-earning program at Smith College is Engineering, General at $52,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $16,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Engineering, General graduate from Smith College earns $52,000, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $16,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Engineering, General graduates carry $19,000 in median debt vs. $19,000 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $27,579/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering, General | $52,000 | $52,000 | $19,000 |
| Economics | $47,400 | $47,400 | $19,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $37,200 | $37,200 | $19,000 |
| Area Studies | $32,300 | $32,300 | $19,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $32,000 | $32,000 | $19,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $30,000 | $30,000 | $18,798 |
| Biology, General | $24,600 | $24,600 | $19,000 |
| Sociology | $24,200 | $24,200 | $19,000 |
| Psychology, General | $22,500 | $22,500 | $19,000 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $21,900 | $21,900 | $19,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $21,500 | $21,500 | $19,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $19,800 | $19,800 | $19,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $16,800 | $16,800 | $19,000 |
Similar Colleges in MA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Northampton, MA
- Student Body
- 2,544 students
- Admission Rate
- 21%
- Graduation Rate
- 89%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $27,579
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $64,027
- Median Student Debt
- $17,550