Admission & Financial Aid

Be. And become.

This is where you’ll discover what’s next for you. At Mount Holyoke, you’ll find an exploratory education that will challenge you to think creatively and an inclusive community that will inspire you to engage deeply. As part of our forward-thinking campus, you will work collaboratively, lead purposefully and build enduring bonds with people from all over the world. Whatever you discover, one thing’s for certain: You’ll achieve well beyond what you thought possible as so many before you have.

Plan your campus visit

The Mount Holyoke College library atrium

The Mount Holyoke Experience

Your path begins here

Explore how Mount Holyoke’s interdisciplinary academics and collaborative community help you build the skills you’ll use to challenge the status quo.

Welcome to our Community

Why a women’s college?

Learn why attending a gender-diverse women’s college creates the space you need to discover — and fulfill — your personal and academic potential.

Learning, amplified

Here, learning is adventurous, exploratory, immersive. It extends beyond the walls of the classroom, helping you connect people, ideas and solutions in order to make the world work better.

Innovators and influencers

Meet the amazing network of alums who have broken barriers to change their communities, industries and the world — and who are ready to champion you as the next generation of Mount Holyoke.

Mount Holyoke by the numbers

More fast facts

Departmental and interdepartmental majors

Biology, politics and psychology are among the top five. Our fastest growing major? Computer science. Our newest? Data science.

10:1

Student-to-faculty ratio

7% of classes have fewer than 10 students; 71% of classes have fewer than 20 students; 90% of classes have fewer than 30 students.

The Five College Consortium

A longstanding partnership between five esteemed institutions of higher education — Mount Holyoke, Amherst, Hampshire, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst — means limitless opportunity for Mount Holyoke students.

$3,000+

The Lynk: Internship funding

We provide funding of $3,000 for domestic internships and $3,600 for international internships to every eligible student who has secured a qualified summer internship or research position.

100+

Student-run clubs and organizations

There’s something for everyone, from student organizations to student government, class boards and club sports!

200+

Distinguished faculty

100% of our classes are taught by faculty. Mount Holyoke professors have won Pulitzer and Guggenheim awards, NASA grants and Carnegie Fellowships.

How to apply

Whether you’re enrolling in college for the first time, transferring from another school, joining us from outside of the United States or beginning your college journey at a different time in life, we’re eager to get to know you.

First year undergraduate students

If you’re applying to be a first-year undergraduate, you can apply to Mount Holyoke during one of two Early Decision windows or during Regular Decision.

Transfer students

We welcome transfer applications from students attending community, two-year and four-year colleges and universities.

International students

If you hold citizenship or permanent residency in a country other than the United States, you have several options for joining Mount Holyoke.

Students of non-traditional age

We champion scholars who follow their own paths. Through the Frances Perkins Program, Mount Holyoke accepts students of nontraditional ages, veterans and parents who have earned at least 40 college credits but have not yet earned an undergraduate degree.

Graduate students

Admission to our graduate programs is based on a holistic evaluation that includes your academic qualifications, your relevant interests and experiences and program capacity.

A group of first year students on the steps of North Rockefeller Hall during orientation

A plan for every student

Since our founding, Mount Holyoke College has always ensured students from all social and economic backgrounds can access an extraordinary education.

Learn about financial aid

A student sits attentively listening to another student

Scholarships for academic excellence and for making an impact

Each year we recognize academic achievement by awarding a number of merit scholarships to extraordinary first-year students.

Our Global Perspectives and Leadership Awards are for first-year applicants who have shown thoughtful, effective and purposeful engagement in the world.

Find out more about our first-year awards

Campus Voices

Why we chose Mount Holyoke

Community

Discover the “YOU” you want to be at Mount Holyoke

The person I am leaving Mount Holyoke College is certainly not the student who applied or walked onto the campus as a first-year student. I knew I would be happy here. What I didn’t expect was how much the community would change me.

Sophia Smith ’22

she/her

Molly Brown enjoying the view from the Summit House atop Mount Holyoke

Community

Why early decision?

Besides its beauty, the next thing I noticed — or should I say, felt — was the energy running through the campus. It’s vibrant. It’s diverse. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I could see myself making friends here. I pictured myself sitting in the Williston Library.

Molly Brown ’25

she/her

A collaborative educational experience

Sophia Jung ’22

she/her

A space where you can express who you are

Wil Abam-DePass ’23

she/her

Isabel DiBiasio-Hudson atop Mount Holyoke on Mountain Day

A true home away from home

Isabel DiBiasio-Hudson ’23

they/them

Explore Stories

Resources for counselors, parents and CBOs

We’d love to share more about Mount Holyoke with you and your student. In addition to all the resources on this page, we also have a few dedicated ways for you to keep up with the latest news from campus and continue the conversation.

Sign up for our counselor newsletter

In the Mount Holyoke Minute, delivered from South Hadley to your inbox every six weeks, Dean Leykia Nulan shares news, information and fun facts from campus.

Counselor portal

InitialView

With InitialView, students can listen to a 90-second pitch from colleges nationwide — including Mount Holyoke. Students then “high-five” their favorite schools, and an admissions counselor follows up with them directly.

Need a panelist?

We’re happy to discuss Mount Holyoke, the value of a gender-diverse women’s college, liberal arts and the Five College Consortium. We can also host an essay-writing workshop with high schoolers. Email us to get started!

Class stats

We want to be clear: Our admission process isn’t just about facts and statistics. But because we do understand that some of your students ask what a “typical admit” might look like, here are some general guidelines to help you advise your students.

Five College counselor program

Mount Holyoke is part of one of the longest-standing consortia in the country: the Five College Consortium. This partnership — between Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges and the University of Massachusetts Amherst — expands academic, cocurricular and social opportunities for students on all five campuses. Interested in touring? Add your name to our interest list for our October Five College counselor program.