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College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

#65 in Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • 4 Year
  • Geneva, NY
  • 580 reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A
  2. Value
    A
  3. Diversity
    A-
  4. Campus
    B-
  5. Athletics
    B
  6. Party Scene
    B+
  7. Professors
    A
  8. Location
    B-
  9. Dorms
    C+
  10. Campus Food
    C
  11. Student Life
    B-
  12. Safety
    C
View Full Report Card
Hobart and William Smith Colleges is ...
Private not-for-profit
Athletic Division
NCAA Division III (with football)
Athletic Conference
Liberty League
Address
300 Pulteney St.
Geneva, NY 14456
Website
hws.edu
From Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Located on 320 acres in the heart of New York State's Finger Lakes Region, Hobart and William Smith are independent liberal arts colleges distinctive for providing highly individualized educations. Guided by a curriculum grounded in exploration and rigor, the Colleges prepare students to lead lives of consequence. In partnership with the Geneva and global communities and through robust programs in career development, study-abroad, service, leadership, and athletics, the Colleges foster an environment that values global citizenship, teamwork, ethics, inclusive excellence, and cultural competence.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Application Deadline
February 1
Acceptance Rate
58%
SAT Range
1190-1320
ACT Range
26-30
Application Fee
$0
SAT/ACT
Neither required nor recommended
High School GPA
Required
Accepts Common App
Yes

Cost

Net Price
$38,805/ year
National
$15,523
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $15,660/ year
  • $30-48k
    $18,504/ year
  • $49-75k
    $23,818/ year
  • $76-110k
    $32,857/ year
  • $110k+
    $40,006/ year
Student Loan Options from Lenders
Learn More
  • 1% Cash Back + affordable rates starting at 3.82% APR w/auto debit discount
  • No application, origination or disbursement fees

Academics

Professors
A
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
10:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
88%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.32 responses
41%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.34 responses
49%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.35 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Economics
    69 Graduates
  • Communications
    56 Graduates
  • Political Science and Government
    43 Graduates
  • Psychology
    41 Graduates
  • Biology
    37 Graduates
  • English
    31 Graduates
  • Natural Resources Conservation
    30 Graduates
  • History
    29 Graduates
  • Public Policy Analysis
    29 Graduates
  • Architecture
    25 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
2,246Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
0%
Pell Grant
17%
Varsity Athletes
25%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 21 responses
Report
  • Preppy, Rich, Elitist, East Coast, Snobby.
    62%
  • Preppy, East Coast
    24%
  • Rich, East Coast, Snobby
    10%
  • Engaged
    5%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
99%
Poll
65%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.43 responses
Poll
56%
of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.54 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 22 responses
Report
  • Preppy, Rich, Elitist, East Coast, Snobby.
    50%
  • Small, Preppy, Jocky, Work Hard Party Hard
    27%
  • Small, Rich, Work Hard, Athletic, East Coast
    9%
  • Athletic, liberal, privileged
    5%
  • Community
    5%
  • Conservative, small, snobby, rich, close-minded
    5%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$51,200/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
77%
National
49%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
94%
National
83%
81%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.21 responses
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Hobart and William Smith Colleges Reviews

580 reviews
All Categories
Hobart and William Smith Colleges is definitely for a specific type of person. I am involved in the English department where the staff are wonderful and super helpful. Socially, things get complicated, the social scene is structured around friend groups where people are often kicked out of. The sex culture is rampant in casual sex and I urge incoming freshmen to be careful. If one plays their cards right, HWS can be a perfect place. The campus is astoundingly beautiful.Theme houses rock!
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I love this place! I was choosing between here and Villanova, so glad I chose HWS. Hobart is a classic college ecpirence. The teachers are some of the best, and classes are so small, you have a lot of access to them. I have met some of the best people here too, friends I will have for life! The Campus is so beautiful right on the lake make spring so much fun. Lots of Hanging out on boats and chilling on the shoars of Seneca Lake. One of the best career services going, they are so good to work with and great at getting your high paying jobs after college.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges sit on one of the most beautiful campuses in the Northeast. Seneca Lake provides endless options for fun and photo opps. Geneva and the surrounding Finger Lakes Region have amazing restaurants, hiking and biking trails, an ever growing beer and wine industry and history galore. Day trips are popular on weekends and students can always be found downtown Geneva at shops and cafes.

HWS students have access to opportunities that prepare them for their life after graduation and help them stand out from their peers. Students can take advantage of the career center as early as their freshmen year and go abroad as early as their sophomore year. Undergraduate research is popular as are senior honors projects. Faculty mentorship extends far beyond the classroom and students feel supported during their four years.