Smith College

About Smith College

At Smith College, knowledge is the beginning of incalculable good and a potent force for progress. Situated in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, Smith is a college of and for the world, empowering students, faculty, and staff to work together to enact positive change on campus, in Northampton, and around the globe. Students have created programs to recover unused food from dining facilities and distribute it to local homeless shelters. Faculty have led groundbreaking research contributing to the development of medicines and a stronger ability to resolve conflict and deepen understanding. Smith alums include elected and appointed officials, leaders in feminism and food, artists who bring new perspectives to light, and change makers who are transforming their communities.

Enrolling more than 2,500 students from nearly every U.S. state and 68 other countries, Smith provides a diverse and dynamic learning environment. The college offers more than 1,200 courses in 83 areas of study through an open curriculum where students design their own educational paths with no requirements other than an introductory writing course. As a member of the Five College Consortium—which includes Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst—Smith enables its students to take courses and participate in certificate programs at any of the nearby institutions, further enriching the Smith experience.

Founded with a mission to expand access to education, Smith seeks to create an equitable student experience by providing economic support, a broad range of curricular and career development resources, and robust no-loans financial aid packages that meet 100% of every student’s demonstrated need for all four years, making a Smith education accessible and affordable.

Built on a foundation of belonging, the community at Smith is strong, vibrant, and inclusive. There are 140 student organizations available, including those that focus on community service, music, dance, and foreign language. Smith’s commitment to athletics is reflected in its support of club sports as well as 11 NCAA Division III teams, including the basketball team, which was a finalist in the 2024 NCAA Division III championship game.

Throughout its history, Smith College has maintained an unwavering commitment to academic and intellectual freedom, public service, and women’s rights. The college has been a leader in opening doors to opportunities that were once unavailable to women. In 2000, Smith became the first women’s college to offer an engineering degree; in 1998, it became the first institution of its kind to guarantee every student access to a funded internship; and in 1892, the first-ever women’s basketball program began at Smith. Its world-renowned Special Collections make visible the histories of traditionally marginalized groups and enable groundbreaking research and scholarship.