Admit rate has ranged 38%–52% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Mount Holyoke College, the oldest of the historic Seven Sisters, blends rigorous academics with a fiercely independent spirit. Known for its lush campus and tradition of empowering women in STEM (40% of majors), MHC stands out for its flexible, self-designed majors and a commitment to meeting full financial need for families earning up to $150K. With an 82% graduation rate and a median debt of just $22,902, it’s a liberal arts powerhouse where students climb mountains—literally—on surprise ‘Mountain Days.’
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,169
In-state tuition
$67,018
Out-of-state tuition
$67,018
STEM Majors
40%
Acceptance Rate
36%
Notable Tradition
Mountain Day (since 1838)
On-Campus Housing
97%
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
Graduation Rate (6-year)
82-85%
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,902
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$58,418
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.2×
Median debt at graduation
$22,902
Graduation rate
84%
First-year retention
89%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
80%
Pell (lower-income) share
44%
First-generation share
19%
Endowment / student
$507,860
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
International Relations and National Security Studies$45,696
Sociology$43,798
Economics$38,289
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$36,852
Education, Other$36,560
Political Science and Government$35,060
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
2
Per 1,000 students
0.92
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
86
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
23°F
Annual rain
53.1"
Annual snow
34.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
186
Scholarly works
6,189
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Mount Holyoke College?
Mount Holyoke College's acceptance rate is approximately 36% (South Hadley, MA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Mount Holyoke College?
Admitted students at Mount Holyoke College typically score 1380–1530 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Mount Holyoke College cost?
At Mount Holyoke College, the average net price (after aid) is about $26,441 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Mount Holyoke College?
Mount Holyoke College enrolls approximately 2,169 undergraduate students.
Where is Mount Holyoke College located?
Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA.
Admissions
Mount Holyoke is selective but not cutthroat, with a 36% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. and a Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policy (only 36-48% of recent enrolled classes submitted SAT/ACT scores). The middle 50% SAT range is 1410–1510, with a mean composite of 1453; ACT composites average 32. Waitlist movement is minimal—just two admits off the waitlist for the Class of 2026. The college emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., valuing environmental activism (like founding clubs or Instagram campaigns) as much as IB diplomas or 3.3 GPAs.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Anthropology
$32,925
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$30,409
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
2.6%
Bottom → top quintile
43%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Academics
MHC’s academic culture prizes interdisciplinary freedom: 40% of students major in STEM (notably biology and computer science, each at 8%), while others craft bespoke majors like ‘biomathematics’ or ‘psycholinguistics’ (10-20 students graduate annually with self-designed degrees). The psychology department dominates (14% of majors), but the real draw is flexibility—students rave about ‘creating the four-year experience you want.’ Professors are accessible, with office hours fostering close mentorship. The college’s 48 majors include niche offerings like musical theater and urban studies, backed by a 12:1 student-faculty ratio.
Life at MHC revolves around traditions and tight-knit community. The 97% on-campus housing rate fuels a residential culture where ‘Mountain Day’—a surprise fall holiday where classes cancel so students hike to Summit House—has thrived since 1838. The Instagram-famous campus blends Gothic architecture with sprawling lawns (‘the beauty inside and outside the buildings is breathtaking,’ per Niche reviews). Though small, the college punches above its weight in inclusivity, with active LGBTQ+ groups (like the GSA) and wellness programs. Division III athletics and 100+ clubs, from environmental activism to theater, round out the vibe.
MHC delivers strong ROI: 82-85% graduate within six years, with 74% finishing in four. Alumni median earnings hit $36,427 one year post-graduation, climbing to $58,418 by the 10-year mark—outpacing many liberal arts peers. The low median debt ($22,902) reflects the college’s aid generosity. Notably, the 89% first-year retention rate signals student satisfaction, likely tied to robust career support and a network of Seven Sisters alumnae.
MHC’s sticker price is softened by unparalleled aid: 75% of students receive grants/scholarships (average package: $61,559), and the ‘Mount Holyoke Commitment’ guarantees no tuition for U.S. families earning under $150K. Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $35,782 after aid, with 64% of students receiving assistance. The college meets 100% of demonstrated need, often without loans—a rarity among privates. Merit scholarships sweeten the deal for high-achievers, regardless of income.
Mount Holyoke merges New England charm with progressive rigor. It’s a place where you can major in ‘neurochemistry’ one minute and hike a mountain the next—all while graduating with less debt than the national average. The Seven Sisters LegacyAn applicant whose parent (or sometimes other close relative) attended the college. Some schools give a small edge to legacy applicants. looms large, but MHC’s modern edge (40% STEM majors, Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. flexibility) proves it’s not resting on tradition. For students craving autonomy—academically, socially, financially—few colleges offer this mix of support and independence.
Mount Holyoke College logo · sourceAt a Glance | Mount Holyoke College · sourceMount Holyoke College | Mount Holyoke College · sourceMount Holyoke College - South Hadley, MA | Appily · source
