Organizer Information
Mount Holyoke College is a private liberal arts college in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Its academic offerings include undergraduate programs across the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The College is a gender-diverse women’s college and participates in the Five College Consortium with Amherst College, Hampshire College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Mount Holyoke College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts, Film, Media, Theater, Art History, Architecture, Dance, Music
- Relevant Programs: Art Studio; Art History; Film Media Theater; Architectural Studies; Dance; Music
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Early September through January application deadlines
- Application Deadline: 15 November (Early Decision I); 5 January (Early Decision II); 15 January (Regular Decision)
- Start of Studies: September 2026
- Application Fee: Free
- Tuition: USD 71,178 per year
- Funding: Merit scholarships and need-based financial aid available.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Mount Holyoke offers undergraduate study in several arts-related disciplines. Film Media Theater combines critical study with film, media, and theater production and performance and leads to a BA. Art Studio provides studio-based study across traditional and contemporary media, while Art History covers visual culture including painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, film, and installations. Architectural Studies combines architectural design with art studio and art history. Dance and Music are also available as BA programs.
- The undergraduate curriculum permits interdisciplinary study, including coursework through the Five College Consortium. Portfolio submission is optional, rather than a general admission requirement; an optional Art Supplement is available through SlideRoom.
General Eligibility
- Mount Holyoke welcomes first-year applicants from the United States and internationally. The College welcomes female, transgender, and nonbinary students. International applicants are eligible to apply for undergraduate admission.
- First-year applicants must present a secondary-school record and submit a counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. At least one teacher recommendation must come from a core academic subject.
- International applicants who are over 25 are directed to the Frances Perkins Scholars Program rather than the standard first-year international application. International students transferring from another higher-education institution must apply as transfer students.
Language Requirements
- Non-native English speakers must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Academic English, Duolingo English Test, or PTE Academic, unless an approved waiver applies. Mount Holyoke does not set a minimum score for most accepted tests, although its published averages include IELTS above 7.0, TOEFL iBT 100, Duolingo above 130, and PTE Academic above 68. Cambridge English requires C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185.
- The College may consider waivers for applicants educated in English under specified circumstances.
Application Fee
| Applicant Type | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| First-year undergraduate applicants | USD 0 |
| International first-year applicants | USD 0 |
Mount Holyoke states that its undergraduate application is free, including Early Decision and Regular Decision applications.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All students | USD 71,178/year; USD 35,589/semester | Annual / semester | Student activity fee: USD 272/year |
| Undergraduate | All students | — | — | Housing: USD 10,836/year; Food: USD 10,760/year |
The published 2026–2027 billed undergraduate cost of attendance is USD 93,046 before applicable health-insurance charges. Health insurance is mandatory for international students and cannot be waived.
Funding & Financial Support
- All first-year applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships without a separate application. International students may apply for need-based financial aid, which can include need-based grants, student loans, and campus employment. International applicants must indicate their intention to seek need-based aid when applying; students who do not apply for need-based aid at admission cannot subsequently receive need-based aid during their enrollment.
- The College also provides The Lynk internship funding of USD 4,000 for eligible domestic internships and USD 4,600 for eligible international internships or research positions.
University Services & Academic Support
Mount Holyoke provides academic support services, faculty mentorship, career development, library and technology resources, research opportunities, and access to the Five College Consortium. Arts students also have access to specialized facilities, including art studios, digital printmaking facilities, film production spaces, and performance spaces. The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum provides additional teaching, internship, employment, and student-guide opportunities.
Application Requirements
First-year applicants must submit:
- Common Application or Coalition Application on Scoir
- Secondary School Report and official high school transcript
- Counselor recommendation
- Two teacher recommendations, including at least one from a core academic subject
- English proficiency test results for applicable non-native English speakers
- Midyear report for Regular Decision applicants, due 15 February
- Early Decision Agreement, if applicable
The Mount Holyoke writing supplement, standardized test scores, and Art Supplement are optional. Evaluative interviews are not part of the first-year admission process.
International applicants must also provide an International Financial Declaration when applicable. Applicants seeking need-based financial aid must submit the CSS Profile and required parental financial documentation.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Opens: Early September 2026
- Early Decision I: 15 November 2026
- Early Decision I Notification: Late December 2026
- Early Decision II: 5 January 2027
- Early Decision II Notification: Late January 2027
- Regular Decision: 15 January 2027
- Regular Decision Notification: Late March 2027
- Midyear Report: 15 February 2027
- Start of Studies: September 2026
Location
Mount Holyoke College — South Hadley, Massachusetts, United States
Additional Details
- Mount Holyoke College announced in fall 2025 that it was closing its Professional and Graduate Education programs. Degree-seeking students already enrolled can complete their programs, but applications for those degree programs are no longer being accepted. Consequently, the current admissions information relevant to new applicants is primarily undergraduate.
- For international applicants, financial-aid deadlines correspond to the admission round: 15 November for Early Decision I, 5 January for Early Decision II, and 15 January for Regular Decision. International applicants seeking need-based aid must submit the CSS Profile and required financial documentation by the applicable deadline.