Reaffirmation of Mission and Announcing Gender Policy
Wellesley College is, and always has been, a women’s college that provides an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world. Wellesley’s founders recognized that the education of women confers powerful benefits on society, as well as on individuals. Since 1875, Wellesley has been educating fearless and inspiring pioneers who demonstrate the power of women’s leadership. This work is important, never more so than today.
Wellesley College will continue to educate, support, and inspire new generations of women. Every aspect of Wellesley's educational program is, and will continue to be, designed and implemented to serve women, and to prepare them well to thrive in a complex world.
Steadfast in our commitment to the College’s mission of educating women, Wellesley will admit women who are prepared for a rigorous academic environment that challenges them to achieve at their highest potential. Wellesley will consider for admission any applicant who lives as a woman and consistently identifies as a woman.
Wellesley will use language reflective of its identity as a women’s college, i.e., female pronouns and other gendered language, in all institutional communications.
Wellesley provides individualized support to every student as a valued part of the College’s culture. Once accepted to Wellesley, every student receives the full support and mentorship of College faculty, staff, and administrators through graduation.
Frequently asked questions
Wellesley’s mission—to provide an excellent education to women who will make a difference in the world—has been reaffirmed and is strengthened by deepening our understanding of what it means to be a woman in the 21st century.
The Board of Trustees emphasized that every aspect of Wellesley’s educational program is, and will continue to be, designed and implemented to serve women and to prepare them to thrive in a complex world. This singular focus on women is a critical part of the Wellesley education and the Wellesley experience. Consistent with this commitment, the Trustees also affirmed the importance of using language specific to the women we educate. In all institutional communications, the College will continue to use female pronouns and the language of sisterhood, both of which powerfully convey important components of our mission and identity. Classroom language will remain at the discretion of the instructor.
Wellesley invites applications from all those who live as women and consistently identify as women and who are prepared for a rigorous academic environment that challenges them to achieve at their highest potential.
“Consistently” simply denotes a student’s commitment to her gender identity.
No. Wellesley is deeply committed to our mission to educate women and the College is proud of its history of graduating women who demonstrate the value of women’s leadership. Wellesley does not accept applications from men. Those assigned female at birth who identify as men are not eligible for admission.
Yes. Wellesley accepts applications from women. Those assigned male at birth who identify as women are eligible for admission.
Yes. That said, Wellesley is a college dedicated to the education of women. The College provides students with a uniquely empowering learning environment—one designed specifically to prepare women to thrive in a complex world. This singular focus on women is a critical part of the Wellesley experience. Wellesley accepts applications from those who were assigned female at birth and who feel they belong in our community of women.
We support all of our students. Once accepted to Wellesley, every student receives the full support and mentorship of College faculty, staff, and administrators through graduation.