Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

More than 130 years ago, in a day when society as a whole viewed women in a much different way, a few New England women had an idea - to create a women's college. That idea was fulfilled when Sophia Smith left her inheritance to promote the idea. Ideals and women's role in society has changed dramatically since the college's founding in 1871, but the mission to provide women with a quality education at Smith College has not.

Smith College is located in Northampton, Massachusetts and while attitudes toward women have changed and women have a wealthy of opportunity they didn't have when the college was founded, Smith College remains a women's college. At Smith College, all the leaders and mentors are women and one of the mottos says: "At Smith, women are the focus of all the attention and all the opportunities."

More than 2,800 students enroll at Smith College annually and they have a choice of more than 1,000 classes in over 50 areas of study.

The campus prides itself on its state-of-the art facilities and up-to-date research materials. The library has more than 1.4 million individual print items, as well as special collections in women's history manuscripts and a nationally known rare book collection. Special sections are dedicated to fine arts, performing arts and the sciences. The 3-building sports complex has two gymnasiums, a pool, weight rooms, training rooms, a climbing wall, fitness center, dance studio, indoor track and tennis center. Additional sports and fitness facilities are located outdoors.

The study abroad program at Smith College draws more than 50 percent of all juniors. Students may choose to attend classes in Hamburg, Florence, Geneva or Paris. Additionally, students can also choose affiliate programs in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Quick Facts:

• Nearly 70 percent of Smith College students receive some form of financial aid. The average grant given to Smith College students is more than $26,000.


• The student to teacher ratio at Smith College is 9:1. More than 280 professors teach at Smith College.


• The botanic garden on the Smith College campus has over 5,000 labeled and mapped plants.


• There are more than 46,000 undergraduate alumnae and more than 7,0000 graduate alumnae. The alumni come from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.


• Smith College has over 10 varsity sports teams.


• There are more than 100 student organizations and clubs on campus from which students can choose to participate.


• Smith College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.