Discover Smith

We began in 1871. And we're still here, because we're still not there. Today, more than 150 years later, the world still needs more. More equity, in access, power, and voice. More diversity, more belonging. More sustainability and more community. The world still needs more. And whenever it does, we will be the ones to push for it. We will be the loud voices that inspire change. We will be the quiet forces that instill it. The world needs a place where knowledge is not the end, but merely the beginning of creating incalculable good. And we will always be that place. At Smith, the weight of our influence is greater than our enrollment. The reach of our mission, larger and more global than our campus. Today, more than ever, the world needs Smith. The world needs you. Smith College—we push the world forward.

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.