• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Compass ad

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Where to eat
  • Wellesley Square
  • Schools
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Charities/Community
  • Arts
  • Summer Camps
  • Kids
  • Events
  • About us
  • Subscribe

Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley College Tower, Wellesley

Wellesley College, the high-ranking all-women’s college located in the heart of Wellesley, Mass., was founded in 1870 and began admitting students in 1875. 18 students graduated from that class in 1879, but now 500+ graduate each year.

The liberal arts school was founded by Henry and Pauline Durant, who were passionate about the higher education of women, according to the college. Notable Wellesley College alumnae have included Hilary Rodham Clinton, Madeleine Albright and Cokie Roberts.

Wellesley College regularly ranks among the top liberal arts schools in the United States, with majors ranging from Africana Studies to Chemistry and from Biology to Women’s and Gender Studies. About 1 in 5 students are accepted, making the school quite selective. Once they’re in, they can expect to pay more than $50,000 for tuition and fees.

wellesley college harry potter 9 3/4

The town of Wellesley is fortunate to have the college as a public resource even though the school is private. The beautiful grounds of the campus, highlighted by traditional brick and stone buildings as well as more modern ones, plus plenty of outdoor art. are popular place for residents to walk, run and boat.

People come from all around to walk around Lake Waban to view the topiary garden and more.

Topiary Gardens, Wellesley
Topiary Gardens, Lake Waban, by Michael William

Wellesley College also opens its 500-acre campus to the public for educational and cultural events throughout the year. This includes the Davis Museum, Newhouse lectures, concerts, public nights at the Whitin Observatory (telescopes), theatre, Canines & Cocktails and outdoor summer movies.

Wellesley Eclipse
Eclipse watching at Whitin Observatory on Wellesley College campus

Wellesley College Davis Museum

And who can forget the notorious Tony Matelli Sleepwalker sculpture of a guy in his tighty-whiteys that triggered some and attracted others for selfies?

Wellesley Sleepwalker

Then there are those quirky Wellesley College traditions, such as hooprolling and sledding down Severance Hill on cafeteria trays.

Wellesley College hoop roll 2015

Wellesley College Severance Hill sledding

With a multibillion dollar endowment, Wellesley College holds onto its traditions but continues to modernize to prepare its students for the modern and future workforces.

More Wellesley College posts and resources:

Wellesley College lays down the bylaws on dogs

Barbara Bush’s Wellesley College commencement address to be published as a stand-alone book

Barbara Bush, Raisa Gorbachev

This teen is REALLY excited about coming to Wellesley

Wellesley College (Wikipedia)

Wellesley College Chapel, Wellesley
Wellesley College chapel

 

Share
Linden Square

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to [email protected]
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Abeles ad Swellesley
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we'd appreciate any contribution you can make to support our independent journalism venture.

Most Read Posts

  • Wellesley: Beware the bogus Xfinity man
  • Holiday happenings in Wellesley
  • Wellesley snow patrol: You've been warned
  • Wellesley Business and Non-Profit Buzz: Salon news; Tollhouse Shop holiday hours; Volvo moves
  • Get in the holiday spirit with Wellesley Symphony Orchestra at "Holiday Pops" on Dec 15

Swellesley Gold

Why Wellesley Men Are Hot
Why Wellesley Men Are Hot
Wellesley High grads told “You’re not special”
Wellesley High grads told
Mr. Swellesley brings library books to the dump
Mr. Swellesley brings library books to the dump
Top Wellesley dog names, breeds
Top Wellesley dog names, breeds
Overlays
PreviousNext

Events Calendar

« December 2019 » loading...
S M T W T F S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
Sat 14

Davis Museum holiday frame and print sale

December 3 @ 11:00 am - December 15 @ 5:00 pm
Sat 14

Breakfast with Santa at The Cottage

December 14 @ 8:00 am
Sat 14

Breakfast with Santa at The Cottage

December 14 @ 9:45 am - 10:45 am
Sat 14

Brunch with Santa, Wellesley College Club

December 14 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sat 14

Disney’s Frozen, Jr.

December 14 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Pages

  • About the Wellesley Free Library
  • Subscribe to The Swellesley Report (Wellesley, Mass.)
  • Wellesley Free Library, December 2019 holiday events for all
  • Wellesley, Massachusetts banks
  • Sponsored Posts on The Swellesley Report
  • Professional Writing & Editing Services (Wellesley, MA)
  • Wellesley Summer Camps, (and beyond)
  • Wellesley Square Merchants directory
  • Wellesley Choral Society
  • Wellesley College Notable Alumnae
  • Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
  • Wellesley outdoor art gallery

Recent Comments

  • Deborah Brown on Wellesley visited by the most lovely, fluffy snow
  • S Hawkinson on Wellesley visited by the most lovely, fluffy snow
  • Local Designer on A rare peek inside Hunnewell Estate in Wellesley
  • Lorelei King on Report: Light up Wellesley High sports field
  • Mike on Report: Light up Wellesley High sports field

Links we like

  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Taquitos.net
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • Animals (338)
  • Antiques (46)
  • Art (502)
  • Beyond Wellesley (13)
  • Books (320)
  • Business (1,231)
  • Careers/jobs (34)
  • Churches (59)
  • Clubs (186)
  • Construction (263)
  • Dump (100)
  • Education (2,659)
    • Babson College (230)
    • Bates Elementary School (11)
    • Dana Hall School (25)
    • Fiske Elementary School (6)
    • Hardy Elementary School (20)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (27)
    • MassBay (37)
    • Schofield Elementary School (16)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (1)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (9)
    • Upham Elementary School (17)
    • Wellesley College (580)
    • Wellesley High School (824)
    • Wellesley Middle School (182)
  • Entertainment (666)
  • Environment (596)
  • Fashion (128)
  • Finance (11)
  • Fire (121)
  • Food (292)
  • Fundraising (495)
  • Gardens (119)
  • Government (230)
  • Health (550)
  • History (320)
  • Holidays (309)
  • Houses (101)
  • Humor (41)
  • Kids (781)
  • Media (56)
  • METCO (4)
  • Morses Pond (86)
  • Music (520)
  • Natick Report (15)
  • Neighbors (218)
  • Obituaries (48)
  • Outdoors (538)
  • Parenting (51)
  • Police (596)
    • Crime (281)
  • Politics (485)
  • Real estate (252)
  • Religion (120)
  • Restaurants (264)
  • Safety (117)
  • Senior citizens (100)
  • Shopping (102)
  • Sports (848)
  • STEM (99)
  • Technology (142)
  • Theatre (375)
  • Town Meeting (14)
  • Transportation (176)
  • Travel (9)
  • Uncategorized (1,145)
  • Volunteering (274)
  • Weather (145)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (240)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (4)
RSS Feed Icon Subscribe to RSS Feed

© 2019 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login