The Seven Sisters are a group of historically women’s liberal arts colleges with a reputation for selectivity and prestige. They came about when America’s women were excluded from the Ivy League and were made to create schools of their own. Nowadays, some of the Seven Sisters continue on the legacy of an all-female campus committed to feminist values, while others have gone coeducational or have become affiliated with Ivy League schools. Let’s break it down:

The Seven Sisters Colleges Admission Rates

College / University	US News “Best Liberal Arts Colleges 2025” Rank)	Location	Acceptance Rate	Co-Ed?
Barnard College	14	Morningside Heights, Manhattan, New York	9%	All female
Wellesley College	7	Wellesley, Massachusetts	14%	All female
Vassar College	12	Poughkeepsie, New York	18%	Co-Ed
Smith College	14	Northampton, Massachusetts	21%	All female
Bryn Mawr College	29	Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania	31%	All female
Mount Holyoke College	34	South Hadley, Massachusetts	36%	All female
Radcliffe College	N/A	Cambridge, Massachusetts	N/A	N/A

Barnard College

Barnard College is the most selective of the Seven Sisters, and for good reason! This historically women’s college was founded in 1889 as a feminist alternative to all-male Columbia University. While this school was always distinguished in its own right, when it became a semi-autonomous subsidiary of Columbia in the late twentieth century, its students began to enjoy the full privileges of an Ivy League campus and graduated with degrees signed by the president of Columbia. 

Wellesley College

The second-most selective school of the Seven Sisters is Wellesley College, with an acceptance rate that most recently clocked in at 14%, rivaling many of the top schools in the nation. Its esteemed alumni include influential women like Madeleine Albright, Diane Sawyer, and Hillary Clinton. Today, Wellesley represents the most civic-oriented of students in the Seven Sisters, educating the next generation of the world’s leaders. 

Vassar College

Despite being the first of the Seven Sisters to be chartered (way back in 1861!), Vassar College has been coeducational since 1969. Today, Vassar is one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the nation, rivaling the likes of Williams College and Amherst College for providing an idyllic liberal arts experience with the help of world-renowned faculty on a campus situated in the rolling hills of the Northeastern U.S.

Smith College

Fans of the political satire Veep, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, will know Smith College as the alma mater of the show’s protagonist. The rest of us think of Smith as a moderately selective liberal arts college with a reputation for strong queer culture and a history of feminist activism. Campus life is incredibly close-knit, as nearly all students must live on campus and forge bonds in the forests of Western Massachusetts.

Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr is situated in one of the most lush and beautiful suburbs in America, nestled right in the heart of the Pennsylvania Main Line. While this private liberal arts college isn’t as highly selective as some of the other Sisters on this list, it’s still a force to be reckoned with. Not only was it the first women’s college to offer graduate education, but it was also the first to offer doctorates in social work. 

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke is sort of like what Brown University is to the Ivy League — the far-left hippie of the group that is staunch in its values and leads with compassion. It’s not uncommon to find protest flags and symbols lining the walls of the dorms at this historic college. But Mount Holyoke also boasts an impressive lineup of faculty and a moderately selective acceptance rate.

Radcliffe College

The only school on this list that no longer exists is Radcliffe College. This women’s college was absorbed into nearby Harvard University during a long-winded process that ended around 1999. Today, its legacy lives on in the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study, which awards continuing education degrees and hosts award-winning lectures and events.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Admission to the Seven Sisters

The acceptance rates to the Seven Sisters don’t lie — far more applicants are rejected from these schools than accepted. If you would like Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers to help your daughter optimize her odds of admission to one of the Seven Sisters, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.