Hobart and William Smith: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Officially Hobart William Smith Colleges · Geneva, New York · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
  • Early Decision
  • Early Decision II
  • Early Action
5,865
Applicants
3,911
Admitted67%
488
Enrolled
12%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Moderately selective67% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1320
Mid 50: 1185–1380
In-state tuition
$65,117
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$31,563
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #60 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Economics #172 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Hobart William Smith Colleges (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.

Is Hobart and William Smith a reach, target or safety for your student?

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Quick answer

Hobart and William Smith is a private nonprofit university in Geneva, New York that admits about 67% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $31,563 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Economics, Communication and Media Studies and Natural Resources Conservation and Research, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 71% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 16.2 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Hobart and William Smith is a private institution located in Geneva, New York with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Hobart and William Smith admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 67%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1320 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $31,563 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Hobart and William Smith?

64% of enrolled students at Hobart and William Smith had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.83, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
33.8%
3.75–3.99
11.6%
3.50–3.74
19.1%
3.25–3.49
15.8%
3.00–3.24
11.6%
2.50–2.99
7.1%
Below 2.50
1.1%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Hobart William Smith Colleges.

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What does Hobart and William Smith weight in admissions?

Hobart and William Smith reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Very Important

2
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA

Important

6
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Character/personal qualities
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience

Considered

9
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Interview
  • Talent/ability
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Level of applicant's interest

Not Considered

1
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

SAT and ACT scores Hobart and William Smith typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 580–685, with an EBRW midpoint near 635. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1185
50th percentile1320
75th percentile1380
% submitting SAT22.7%
ACT Composite
25th percentile26.5
50th percentile30
75th percentile32
% submitting ACT5.5%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Test-optional since 2006; scores used only if they help. No application fee.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Hobart and William Smith's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

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 class27.2%
Top 25% of class62.1%
Top 50% of class89.3%
% submitting class rank21.1%

How much does Hobart and William Smith actually cost?

Published tuition is $65,117 for in-state students and $65,117 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,768 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $31,563 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 25% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition—
Room and board$16,200
Average net price (after aid)$31,563
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need90%
Average need-based grant$53,392
Average merit award, no financial need179 first-year students received one$42,030
Graduates who borrowed72%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$31,392
Financial aid formsFAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$0

Application deadlines and early decision data for Hobart and William Smith

Regular admission
Regular deadlineFebruary 1
Notification dateMarch 1
Reply deadlineMay 1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 15
Offers Early Decision IIYes
ED II deadlineJanuary 15
ED acceptance rate (all rounds)57%
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadlineNovember 15

Will my child graduate from Hobart and William Smith?

These predict outcomes at Hobart and William Smith better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
88.1%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
62.4%
finished on time
6-year graduation
70.9%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Hobart and William Smith

The most popular undergraduate programs at Hobart and William Smith, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Communication and Media Studies and Natural Resources Conservation and Research. Across all programs, Hobart and William Smith confers roughly 350 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $84,370 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Economics70$84,370
Communication and Media Studies63$70,320
Natural Resources Conservation and Research54$70,359
Psychology, General42n/a
Biology, General34n/a
Political Science and Government31n/a
History30$65,922
Architecture and Related Services, Other26n/a
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Hobart and William Smith safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Hobart and William Smith disclosed 29 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 16.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
29
16.2 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
2
1.12 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
9
5.04 per 1,000
Burglary
9
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 1,786 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Hobart and William Smith?

About 85% of undergraduates at Hobart and William Smith live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 1% of men join a fraternity and 8% 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
85%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
72%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
In fraternities
1%
of men
In sororities
8%
of women
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Hobart William Smith Colleges.

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Common questions parents ask about Hobart and William Smith

What GPA do I need for Hobart and William Smith?

64% of enrolled students at Hobart and William Smith had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.83, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does Hobart and William Smith typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 580–685, with an EBRW midpoint near 635. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32.

How much does Hobart and William Smith actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Hobart and William Smith after grants and scholarships is $31,563 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $65,117. Budget against the net figure.

Is Hobart and William Smith realistic for my child?

Hobart and William Smith admits 67% of applicants, so 580–685 SAT Math is target range and below 580 is a reach. Then check the $31,563 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Hobart and William Smith?

Hobart and William Smith accepts about 67% of applicants out of roughly 5,865 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.

Is Hobart and William Smith test-optional?

Yes. Hobart and William Smith is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, 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 Hobart and William Smith?

About 71% of students at Hobart and William Smith graduate within six years, and 62% finish in four years. 88% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Hobart and William Smith?

Hobart and William Smith's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 57%, compared with its overall rate of 67%. The ED rate is not materially higher here, so weigh the binding commitment carefully.

What does Hobart and William Smith look for in applicants?

Hobart and William Smith rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Hobart and William Smith a public or private school, and where is it located?

Hobart and William Smith is a private nonprofit institution located in Geneva, New York.

What are the most popular majors at Hobart and William Smith?

The largest undergraduate majors at Hobart and William Smith by annual graduates are Economics, Communication and Media Studies and Natural Resources Conservation and Research. The school awards about 350 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Hobart and William Smith safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Hobart and William Smith reported 29 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 16.2 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 Hobart and William Smith?

At Hobart and William Smith, 85% of undergraduates live on campus, 1% of men are in fraternities, 8% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Hobart William Smith Colleges, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers