Mount Holyoke College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

South Hadley, Massachusetts · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
36%
5,226 applicants
Median SAT
1470
Mid 50: 1410–1510
In-state tuition
$67,018
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$26,441
after aid, what families pay
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Quick answer

Mount Holyoke College is a private nonprofit university in South Hadley, Massachusetts that admits about 36% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $26,441 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Research and Experimental Psychology, Political Science and Government and Economics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 84% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Mount Holyoke College is a private institution located in South Hadley, Massachusetts with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Mount Holyoke College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 36%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1470 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $26,441 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Mount Holyoke College?

66% of enrolled students at Mount Holyoke College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.89, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
34.0%
3.75–3.99
32.4%
3.50–3.74
22.0%
3.25–3.49
8.2%
3.00–3.24
2.7%
2.50–2.99
0.4%
Below 2.50
0.2%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Mount Holyoke College.

What does Mount Holyoke College weight in admissions?

Mount Holyoke College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

Very Important4 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
Important7 factors
  • Class rank
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience

SAT and ACT scores Mount Holyoke College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 705. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1410
50th percentile1470
75th percentile1510
% submitting SAT13%
ACT Composite
25th percentile32
50th percentile33
75th percentile35
% submitting ACT2%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Considered if submitted

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class44%
Top 25% of class82%
Top 50% of class95%
% submitting class rank34%

How much does Mount Holyoke College actually cost?

Published tuition is $67,018 for in-state students and $67,018 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,684 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $26,441 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 22% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$67,782
Room and board$20,373
Average net price (after aid)$26,441
Application fee$0

Application deadlines and early decision data for Mount Holyoke College

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/15
Notification date4/1
Reply deadline5/1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 15
Offers Early Decision IIYes
ED II deadlineJanuary 1
ED acceptance rate (all rounds)46%

Will my child graduate from Mount Holyoke College?

These predict outcomes at Mount Holyoke College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
89%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
70.7%
finished on time
6-year graduation
84.39%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Mount Holyoke College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Mount Holyoke College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Research and Experimental Psychology, Political Science and Government and Economics. Across all programs, Mount Holyoke College confers roughly 389 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Political Science and Government program report a median income of about $66,447 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Research and Experimental Psychology83
Political Science and Government53$66,447
Economics50
Biology, General47$51,299
Natural Resources Conservation and Research46$54,485
Computer Science42
Sociology36
English Language and Literature, General32$42,639
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Mount Holyoke College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Mount Holyoke College disclosed 3 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 2 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
3
1.4 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
0
0.00 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
2
0.92 per 1,000
Burglary
0
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 2,169 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Mount Holyoke College?

About 97% of undergraduates at Mount Holyoke College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
97%
of undergraduates
In fraternities
0%
of men
In sororities
0%
of women
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Mount Holyoke College.

Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about

Next steps for Mount Holyoke College

Common questions parents ask about Mount Holyoke College

What GPA do I need for Mount Holyoke College?

66% of enrolled students at Mount Holyoke College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.89, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does Mount Holyoke College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 705. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35.

How much does Mount Holyoke College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Mount Holyoke College after grants and scholarships is $26,441 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $67,018. Budget against the net figure.

Is Mount Holyoke College realistic for my child?

Mount Holyoke College admits 36% of applicants, so 670–770 SAT Math is target range and below 670 is a reach. Then check the $26,441 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Mount Holyoke College?

Mount Holyoke College accepts about 36% of applicants out of roughly 5,226 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.

Is Mount Holyoke College test-optional?

Yes. Mount Holyoke College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at Mount Holyoke College?

About 84% of students at Mount Holyoke College graduate within six years, and 71% finish in four years. 89% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Mount Holyoke College?

Mount Holyoke College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 46%, compared with its overall rate of 36%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.

What does Mount Holyoke College look for in applicants?

Mount Holyoke College rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Mount Holyoke College a public or private school, and where is it located?

Mount Holyoke College is a private nonprofit institution located in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

What are the most popular majors at Mount Holyoke College?

The largest undergraduate majors at Mount Holyoke College by annual graduates are Research and Experimental Psychology, Political Science and Government and Economics. The school awards about 389 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Mount Holyoke College safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Mount Holyoke College reported 3 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at Mount Holyoke College?

At Mount Holyoke College, 97% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Mount Holyoke College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers