Smith College
Smith College is a prestigious private liberal arts college for women, located in Northampton, Massachusetts, with a long tradition of academic excellence and gender empowerment. Founded in 1871 and opened in 1875, Smith offers more than 1,000 courses across 83 fields of study, with an open curriculum that gives students the freedom to chart their own path, requiring only a writing-intensive first-year course and major requirements. The college has a student-faculty ratio of about 9:1, and students can take advantage of the Five College Consortium (Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, UMass Amherst) to access a wider range of courses. Smith is deeply committed to access and affordability, meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need with grant-based aid and a no-loan financial aid policy, and it has recently introduced a Next 150 Pledge that offers free tuition for many students. With a diverse student body that includes around 12% international students, Smith provides strong support through paid internships (Praxis program), research opportunities, global study-abroad options, and a leadership development program. Its campus features a rich academic environment, including world-class libraries, a botanic garden, and dedicated research labs in both humanities and STEM fields.
