Wells College, which was originally established in 1868 as a college for women, was founded by Henry Wells and initially known as Wells Seminary. Wells College became a coeducational institute in 2005. The campus of this liberal arts college is spread across 300 acres in Aurora, New York.
Wells College offers a number of bachelor's degree programs, and certificate courses of study. Students can choose from majors in American studies, biological and chemical sciences, foreign language education, economics, management, public affairs, mathematical and physical sciences, international studies, visual arts, religion, sociology, and women's studies.
The athletics department of Wells College is a member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference, the North Atlantic Conference, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III. The teams are nicknamed the Express, and they participate in sports like field hockey, soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, tennis, softball, and golf.
The campus of Wells College is in Aurora, NY, which is a rural area. The school is a private, not-for-profit institution. Degrees at Wells College include, at the school's highest level, the Bachelor's degree.
The school has a greater breadth of degree programs (majors) than most colleges of its size. Wells College is known for its programs in drama and performing arts, fine arts, therapy and counseling, liberal arts, and conservation and resource management.
Admission at the school is selective, not open to all who apply. Three quarters of students in 2007-2008 had SAT verbal scores of at least 500. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 480 and 600.
The school maintains a faculty/student ratio (full-time) which is better than most colleges. Wells College has a tenure system for senior faculty. The full-time faculty at the school is well-paid, which often goes with faculty quality.
In 2007-2008, Wells College had 552 students enrolled (560 full-time equivalent). A very high share of students at the school are female.
Wells College has a residential or campus feel. The school offers dorm rooms to a higher percentage of its students than do most colleges. Wells College values student athletics, and belongs to the Division III Independents.
The school reports its educational mission is:
"The mission of Wells is to educate students to think critically, reason wisely, and act humanely as they cultivate meaningful lives. Through Wells's academic program, residential atmosphere, and community activities, students learn and practice the ideals of the liberal arts. The Wells experience prepares students to appreciate complexity and difference, to embrace new ways of knowing, to be creative, and to respond ethically to the interdependent worlds to which they belong. Committed to excellence in all areas of its reach, Wells College equips students for lifelong learning and for sharing the privileges of education with others."
More complete details are provided below.
Wells College
170 State Rte 90
Aurora, NY 13026-0500
General Phone: (315) 364-3266
http://www.wells.edu
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts | 35 | creative writing, sociology, history, anthropology, English, international relations, American studies, women's studies, ... |
| Therapy and Counseling | 18 | psychology |
| Science | 12 | biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics |
| Mathematics | 4 | mathematics |
| Family and Social Work | 4 | public administration |
| Fine Arts | 3 | fine arts, art history and criticism |
| Business and Management | 2 | business management |
| Conservation and Resource Management | 1 | environmental studies |
| Drama and Performing Arts | 1 | various performing arts |
| Religion and Philosophy | 1 | philosophy and religious studies |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 1 | computer science |
Number of programs and degrees for Wells College in 2008-2009:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 82 | 27 |
In 2007-2008, Wells College had a total enrollment of 552 students (560 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 36% |
| Women | 64% |
| Full-Time | 100% |
| Part-Time | 0% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 100% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 70% |
| Black | 5% |
| Hispanic | 4% |
| Asian | 2% |
| American Indian | 1% |
| Unknown | 16% |
| (Foreign Students) | 2% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 5% |
| 18-19 | 52% |
| 20-21 | 18% |
| 22-24 | 18% |
| 25-29 | 3% |
| 30-34 | 2% |
| 35-39 | 1% |
| 40-49 | 1% |
| 50-64 | 1% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 75 % |
Wells College offers campus housing for 506 of its 560 (full-time) students.
(Please refer to our profile of Aurora, New York for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other New York Colleges).
The school does not offer students a meal plan.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,117 | 713 | 64% | 155 | 22% |
| Men | 365 | 218 | 60% | 56 | 26% |
| Women | 752 | 495 | 66% | 99 | 20% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 500 | 610 |
| SAT Math | 480 | 600 |
| SAT Writing | 470 | 590 |
| ACT Verbal | 20 | 26 |
| ACT Math | 20 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 27 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | recommended |
| Class Rank | recommended |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | recommended |
| Recommendations | required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | not required |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 91% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 37% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 19,080 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 19,080 |
| Room and board | $ 8,596 |
| Room charge | $ 4,298 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 4,298 |
| Books and supplies | $ 800 |
| Other expenses | $ 800 |
Financial Aid:
Wells College participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 290100)
Wells College has a tenure system for faculty.
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 15 | $84,620 | 10 | $75,263 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 4 | $58,936 | 7 | $58,277 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 4 | $53,193 | 7 | $50,414 |
| Instructor | academic year | 0 | * | 1 | * |
| All faculty total | academic year | 23 | $74,687 | 25 | $62,219 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Division III Independents |
| Track | Division III Independents |
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Business Administration and Management, General
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Science
CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Studies
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Public Administration
FINE ARTS
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
Fine/Studio Arts, General
LIBERAL ARTS
American/United States Studies/Civilization
Anthropology
Creative Writing
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
French Language and Literature
German Language and Literature
History, General
International Relations and Affairs
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
Women's Studies
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics, General
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Physics, General
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets Wells College Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Dorm rooms per full-time student (vs. all colleges) | Top 4% | ![]() ![]() |
| % of degrees in drama and performing arts (vs. all colleges) | Top 5% | ![]() ![]() |
| % of degrees in fine arts (vs. all colleges) | Top 7% | ![]() |
| Female % of student body (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 8% | ![]() |
| Number of degree programs (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 10% | ![]() |
| Faculty/student ratio (full-time) (vs. all colleges) | Top 10% | ![]() |
| Salaries of full-time faculty (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 11% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in therapy and counseling (vs. all colleges) | Top 17% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in liberal arts (vs. all colleges) | Top 17% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in conservation and resource management (vs. all colleges) | Top 17% | ![]() |
| % of full-time faculty on tenure track (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 19% | ![]() |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits
Offers credit for life experience
Grants credits for AP courses
Career counseling
Student employment services
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Tenure system for quality teaching
NCAA athletic conference member
Try our unique CollegeMatch™ tool to find schools similar to Wells College.
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(Based on an automated mapping of degrees popular at Wells College with government-defined occupation categories)
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Selected QuickSchools™ With Program Focus Areas Similar To Wells College(What are QuickSchools?)
Conservation And Resource Management
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