Founded in 1871, Smith College opened in 1875 with 14 students. Today, Smith is among the largest women’s colleges in the United States, with students from 48 states and 68 countries. An independent, nondenominational college, Smith remains strongly committed to the education of women at the undergraduate level, but admits both men and women as graduate students.
Northampton, Massachusetts, United States
Bachelor's programmes
Humanities (19)
- Bachelor Africana Studies
- Bachelor Classical Languages and Literatures
- Bachelor Classics
- Bachelor East Asian Languages and Literatures
- Bachelor Education and Child Study
- Bachelor English Language and Literature
- Bachelor French Studies
- Bachelor German Studies
- Bachelor History
- Bachelor Italian Studies
- Bachelor Jewish Studies
- Bachelor Latin American and Latino-a Studies
- Bachelor Medieval Studies
- Bachelor Philosophy
- Bachelor Religion
- Bachelor Spanish and Portuguese
- Bachelor The History of Art
- Bachelor World Literature
Social Sciences (18)
- Bachelor Africana Studies
- Bachelor American Studies
- Bachelor Anthropology
- Bachelor East Asian Languages and Literatures
- Bachelor Economics
- Bachelor French Studies
- Bachelor German Studies
- Bachelor Government
- Bachelor Italian Studies
- Bachelor Jewish Studies
- Bachelor Latin American and Latino-a Studies
- Bachelor Medieval Studies
- Bachelor Psychology
- Bachelor Religion
- Bachelor Sociology
- Bachelor Spanish and Portuguese
- Bachelor Women and Gender Studies
Arts, Design & Architecture (7)
- Bachelor Architecture
- Bachelor Dance
- Bachelor Film Studies
- Bachelor Music
- Bachelor Studio Art
- Bachelor The History of Art
- Bachelor Theatre
Natural Sciences & Mathematics (6)
- Bachelor Astronomy
- Bachelor Biochemistry
- Bachelor Biological Sciences
- Bachelor Chemistry
- Bachelor Neuroscience
- Bachelor Physics
Environmental Studies & Earth Sciences (2)
- Bachelor Environmental Science and Policy
- Bachelor Geosciences
Computer Science & IT (1)
- Bachelor Computer Science
Education & Training (1)
- Bachelor Education and Child Study
About
History
The college began more than 140 years ago in the mind and conscience of a New England woman. Smith has changed much since its founding in 1871. But throughout its history there have been certain enduring constants: an uncompromising defense of academic and intellectual freedom, an attention to the relation between college education and the larger public issues of world order and human dignity.
Education
Smith College educates women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose. A college of and for the world, Smith links the power of the liberal arts to excellence in research and scholarship, thereby developing engaged global citizens and leaders to address society’s challenges.
Research
Undergraduate research extends learning beyond the classroom, providing students with exciting opportunities to investigate pressing questions in science. At the heart of the Smith experience is active engagement, driven by faculty-mentored research across a wide variety of academic disciplines. About half of Smith’s STEM majors conduct research with Smith professors. By joining a research lab, students gain authentic experience applying the scientific method, are exposed to the greater scientific community and contribute to long-term discovery.
Career
Almost 70 percent of each year’s senior class step from graduation right into good jobs, while 25 percent go directly to graduate school.
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2019
GSSA 2019
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2019. By rating institutions on a scale from 1 to 5, on multiple studies-related questions, we found the top educators in the world.
Learn more about the Global Student Satisfaction AwardsUniversity Ranking
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2021
601
2020
601
2019
601
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Services
Student services
Your living community is an integral part of your education at Smith. Staff in the Office of Residence Life can help ensure that your co-curricular living environment enhances and enriches your overall experience.
Residential living is vital for your education, you will be living, studying and socializing with roommates, housemates and friends from around the world—all with varied and distinctive backgrounds and experiences.
Housing services
37 self-governing houses accommodate between 12 and 100 students; most houses include women from all four classes.
Residence life is part of Smith's co-curricular environment that enhances and enriches the academic program. Students come from varied backgrounds, and the house community provides a supportive, social environment for students to learn about and appreciate each other's experiences and differences.
Library services
More than 1 million items. Special-subject libraries for the fine and performing arts and the sciences; distinguished collection of women's history manuscripts; nationally prominent rare book collection.
ICT services
The IT Service's goal is to provide Smith students, faculty, staff, and administrators with information services that support and enhance all aspects of college life.
Medical services
The Pelham Medical Services provides appropriate, comprehensive medical services to address the needs of college students. Doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses provide routine health and wellness care such as sports and travel physicals; general check-ups; clearance exams for volunteer work or internships; reproductive and sexual health exams; contraception; related health education.
Student Life
Campus life
The Smith College Campus Police Department is committed to protecting the lives and property of all members of the Smith College community, including visitors and guests, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a part of the larger college community, the department strives to foster an environment where diversity is celebrated, where all are made welcome and where all rights are preserved. Officers patrol the campus on foot, on specially equipped mountain bikes, on a Segway or in cruisers.
Sports facilities
11 varsity sports and extensive intramural and club sport programs.
Student clubs
What organization will you join or local community agency will you volunteer for? Or do you want to play a club sport? It’s your choice. All Smith students are members of the Student Government Association, which supports the programs of more than 120 organizations catering to students with varied interests. You can join—or lead—any of these organizations.
Accreditation
- Smith College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Membership in the association indicates that the institution has been carefully evaluated and found to meet standards agreed upon by qualified educators.
Student Reviews
Intense but worth it!
Anonymous rated 5 out of 5 stars
I have loved Smith College. Every student is highly motivated to do well for themselves, not because they want to be "better" than others. The academics are intense and classes are hard, but it's worth it in the end.
Women for the world
Anonymous rated 5 out of 5 stars
Smith is a very empowering community. It's the perfect platform for an outstanding education at a prestigious institution while being surrounded by global leaders.
SDS at Smith College
Anonymous rated 5 out of 5 stars
Smith is an incredible school that I feel lucky to have attended. The SDS department is quite young and care so deeply about their students! I have learned life long skills I can apply anywhere to any field.
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