Our mission at Wells College is for every student to think critically, reason wisely and act humanely as you cultivate a meaningful life. On our beautiful lakeside campus in Aurora, New York, you will gain the knowledge, skills and experience to create your own unique path and always feel you belong. Our closely connected campus community means starting from Day 1, you can develop personal relationships with faculty mentors and successful alumni around the world. 100% of Wells students graduate with at least one professional internship or hands-on learning experience, so you can immediately reap the benefits of a purposeful liberal arts and sciences education in the real world. 150 years of history has got your back!
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Director of Admissions
170 Main Street
Aurora, NY 13026
Experience College Life
Boat House
Schwartz Student Union
Macmillan Hall
Main Building
Ithaca Commons
Pyramid Mall
Cayuga Lake
Cornell University
Campus Tours
Dates: Year-round
Times: 9AM-4PM Monday-Friday
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
Apply to Wells College using the Common Application or the Wells Application. We are test-optional, and there is no application fee.
Deadlines
Regular Admission: March 1
Early Action / Early Decision: December 15
Recommended FAFSA Filing: December 1
Applicants must submit:
- Official high school transcripts and school report
- One teacher recommendation from an 11th and/or 12th grade teacher in academic subject areas
- Unique Expression: To help us better understand your achievements and potential, we welcome any additional material that showcases your unique personality and talents. These can be but are not limited to: Personal essays, your Zeemee Profile, a résumé, creative portfolio, and/or video recording of a musical or athletic performance.
- International students only: English proficiency test scores. See here for more details.
- Students applying for first-year admission should present a secondary school program with a minimum of four academic subjects each year, including:
- four years of English
- three or more years of mathematics
- three or more years of social science
- two or more years of laboratory science
- one or more years of a foreign language
Overview
ACT Test Scores
Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Decision — December 15
Early Action — December 15
Regular — March 1
Other Admission Factors
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Economics & Management, Education: Inclusive Childhood, English (Literature, Creative Writing), Environmental Science, Health Sciences, History, Individualized Major, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology, Spanish, Theatre, Visual Arts (Art History, Book Arts, Studio Art), Women's & Gender Studies
Majors and Degrees Offered
Wells College offers a modern, flexible undergraduate curriculum rooted in the liberal arts. Interdisciplinary dialogue and hands-on experience are part of every academic program. Students benefit from personal guidance by faculty mentors, and often partner with professors to conduct original research that leads to presentations at national conferences and publication in peer-reviewed scholarly journals. Curriculum advising for students interested in professional career tracks such as medicine and law is also available. Students can also take advantage of Wells partnerships in cross-registration or dual-degree programs with other institutions such as Cornell University, Columbia University, the University of Rochester and Clarkson University.
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Women's Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology, General.
Molecular Biology.
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BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.
Business Administration and Management, General.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer Science.
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EDUCATION.
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs.
Foreign Language Teacher Education.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
Creative Writing.
English Language and Literature, General.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Health/Health Care Administration/Management.
Holistic Health.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
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LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
General Studies.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Museology/Museum Studies.
Sustainability Studies.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Science.
Environmental Studies.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Physics, General.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS.
Public Administration.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology.
Criminology.
Economics, General.
International Relations and Affairs.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Visual and Performing Arts, Other.
Students Say
Degrees
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Careers
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
For the 2019-2020 year:
Tuition: $29,400
Fees: $1,500
Room and board: $14,100
TOTAL: $45,000
Financial Aid
All admitted students are considered for one of Wells' many merit-based scholarships. For the 2019-20 academic year, the average amount of institutional aid granted by Wells College is $20,000. The average net cost for students is $16,000.
Dates
Required Forms
State Aid
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Wells College has approximately 450 students from 29 states and 7 countries. 91% of students live on campus. The female-to-male ratio is roughly 6:4. In Fall 2018, 46% of new students were awarded top-level scholarships that required a 3.5 GPA or higher.
With 150 years of vibrant campus traditions, over 40 student organizations, 13 NCAA Division III teams, social clubs, community service projects, student government, religious affiliations and theatre and performance groups, you will find every day at Wells is a new adventure.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Wells College sits on 300 acres of land on the shore of Cayuga Lake in Aurora, a village in the heart of the scenic Finger Lakes Region of central New York State. Wells is an hour's drive from Syracuse, 1.5 hours from Rochester, and 4.5 hours to New York City and Philadelphia.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
The Wells College campus is an eclectic mix of history and modernity. As a Wellsian, you can live in stately 19th century mansions, eat at our gothic dining hall, attend science classes in laboratories personally designed by professors, feel at the top of your game on the all-weather, multi-sport turf field or indoor gym, handprint artwork at the Book Arts Center using a 20th century iron letterpress, make your own paper in the papermaking studio, develop models with 3D printers, and sail Cayuga Lake from the College Boathouse to conduct environmental testing for class or just for your own enjoyment!
Off-Campus Opportunities
In addition to over 20 study abroad locations, Wells College operates a nationally renowned study abroad program in Lorenzo de' Medici, the Italian International Institute in Florence, Italy.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Dorms Coed
Wellness Housing
Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Student Services
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Cornell University
Sustainability
Data provided by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS®, as of March, 2023.
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/