“We’re creating the next generation of female leaders,” said Nicole Reynold, dean of undergraduate admissions at Bryn Mawr College outside of Philadelphia, PA, speaking to a group of around 50 independent educational consultants. 

Only 2% of undergraduates attend a women’s college, but those who do are seven times more likely to major in STEM, and they learn to navigate those male-dominated fields. Across all professions, alumnae  of women’s colleges assume leadership roles at a much higher rate than alumnae of coed schools. The women of the Seven Sisters colleges have a powerful network, including Hillary Clinton, who attended Wellesley.

Bryn Mawr’s acceptance rate for 2025 was 29%. They have a no-loan policy of meeting full demonstrated need for families earning $110K or less. They are “need aware,” meaning that if you can pay the full price (over $83K), it could give you a slight edge. You can ask for a need-based financial aid pre-read if applying through the binding Early Decision round. Only the top 10-15% receive merit aid.

Admissions

In shaping the incoming class, admissions takes into account institutional priorities of academic excellence, a diverse and inclusive community reflecting a range of experience and geography, and preparing students for lives of purpose through the liberal arts. The college is test optional, but the middle 50% of those who submitted SATs scored 1300 to 1470, ACT 30 to 33. Recommendations and the personal essay are considered very important.

Curriculum 

The most popular majors at Bryn Mawr are biology, economics, psychology, English, and math. A new major called Growth & Structure of Cities has been added. You don’t declare you major until sophomore year.

The quaint town of Bryn Mawr is only an 18-minute SEPTA ride from Philadelphia, and 

95% live on campus. The town is close to partners of Haverford, Swarthmore, and Penn, and buses connect the “bi-co” and “tri-co” schools. The women’s liberal arts college shares resources and classes with Haverford College (bi-co) and Swarthmore (tri-co), which are coed. Seventy percent take classes across the consortium, primarily with Haverford and Swarthmore.

Bryn Mawr has a collaborative energy. Reynolds said the women here are “whip smart but humble as the day is long.” With about half the students being non-white, there’s a broad range of viewpoints and perspectives.

Who thrives?

What kind of students thrive at Bryn Mawr? Women with deep intellectual curiosity, facile minds, and a desire to pursue their passions. They want a liberated learning environment, unfettered by social norms that defer to males. They’re mature, unafraid of being different, and willing to take intellectual risks.

Students at Bryn Mawr (Mawrters) sign a pledge to be academically and socially honest, and this honor code means not only that professors trust their students to take exams without proctors; it means that you can leave your computer untended in the library and find it still there two hours later.

The student government at Bryn Mawr has real power over daily lives. They pushed for and got free transit passes, a $2-3 raise in student wages, and hammocks to lounge in when the weather warms up.

In my opinion. . .

More young women should consider a women’s college like Bryn Mawr. You will still be able to have classes and socialize with men, but the confidence you gain from this education is real. As Reynolds said, “There’s a stamp of confidence among women’s college alums.”