Top 10 Yellow Ribbon Women’s Colleges
Women’s colleges were once abundant, but today, they are a rarity in higher education. According to the Women’s College Coalition, there were over 200 women’s colleges in the U.S. during the 1960s, but that number has since dropped to fewer than 30.
For much of American history, colleges primarily served male students, often catering to the wealthy. Women’s colleges were established in the 19th and early 20th centuries to give women access to higher education where they had not had it before.
They aimed to address gender inequality in education and support the women’s rights movement, helping women gain the skills and knowledge needed for personal and professional growth.
Despite the reduction in the number of all-women institutions over the years, the remaining women’s colleges are still popular and have seen a recent surge in applications.
Today, the leading women’s colleges compete with their co-ed counterparts in academia, financial aid offerings, and graduation rates.
What Is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
The VA Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It was created to help cover tuition and fees that the GI Bill does not for out-of-state, private tuition costs, and expenses related to attending graduate school.
The Yellow Ribbon Program increases educational opportunities for veterans and makes higher education more accessible and affordable by filling the financial gap between what the GI Bill covers and the remainder of the private or out-of-state program. Not all schools participate in the Yellow Ribbon program.
Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon program and how to apply.
Top 10 Yellow Ribbon Women’s Colleges
10. Simmons University
Students at Simmons University in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood can choose from over 60 majors, including registered nursing, kinesiology, and communications.
The university also emphasizes practical experience—all students must participate in internships, clinical placements, fieldwork, or research projects. Simmons prides itself on its small class sizes with a 13:1 ratio, ensuring personalized attention for every student. Simmons students can join more than 80 clubs and organizations outside the classroom.
9. College of St. Mary
The College of Saint Mary (CSM) in Omaha, Nebraska, is a Catholic university established in 1923 by the Sisters of Mercy. CSM provides a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, science, business, education, and legal studies.
The school is also known for its unique initiatives, such as a residence hall for single mothers and their children and the Marie Curie Scholarships for women pursuing biology, chemistry, mathematics, or medical technology majors.
CSM emphasizes community engagement, offering over 100 service learning opportunities for students. Also, all first-year, full-time students receive comprehensive financial aid or scholarships to support their education.
8. Meredith College
Meredith College is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and has a student population of about 1,600, including around 275 graduate students. The college boasts over 90 undergraduate majors and 30 co-ed graduate and certificate programs.
With over 100 clubs and organizations, Meredith provides numerous chances to connect with others, build experience, and make a meaningful impact.
Meredith’s 225-acre campus features a 1,200-seat amphitheater, a lake, six residence halls, student apartments, a student center, a fitness center, and a complex with athletic fields and a track.
7. College of St. Benedict
The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) are affiliated Benedictine colleges in Minnesota. CSB, a women’s college in St. Joseph, and SJU, a men’s college in Collegeville, operate collaboratively, offering a liberal arts education that fosters critical thinking, leadership, and global awareness. Students benefit from a shared curriculum and access to resources on both campuses.
The average class size at CSB is 19 students. Popular programs include business administration, biology, nursing, and psychology.
6. Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia’s Agnes Scott College is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church but welcomes students of all faiths. The college offers admission to fewer than 1,000 students who can make connections in over 50 student-led organizations.
SUMMIT shapes the school’s undergraduate experience—students engage in a core curriculum emphasizing global awareness, leadership skills, career readiness, and digital competence. The college offers a range of programs, including pre-law, a 4+1 education program, pre-medicine, and dual-degree options in fields such as computer science, engineering, and nursing.
5. Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a member of the Five College Consortium, which includes Amherst College, Hampshire College, Smith College, and UMass Amherst. Students can take classes and participate in events across all campuses. As a member of the Twelve College Exchange Program, Mount Holyoke offers students the opportunity to study at other prestigious institutions like Vassar and Dartmouth.
Unique in its admissions process, Mount Holyoke does not consider SAT scores, focusing instead on a holistic review of applicants. Although the college does not have a Greek system, students can build friendships and networks through 150 clubs and organizations.
4. Scripps College
Located in Claremont, California, Scripps College is a member of the Claremont Consortium, which also includes nearby institutions such as Claremont McKenna College, Pomona College, Pitzer College, and Harvey Mudd College.
While each college maintains its unique identity, they collaborate by sharing resources like a central library and safety services. Students can participate in activities and enroll in classes across consortium colleges.
Scripps’s core curriculum includes three foundational humanities courses. Students must also complete coursework in gender and women’s studies, foreign languages, mathematics, fine arts, social sciences, and race and ethnic studies.
3. Bryn Mawr
Bryn Mawr College (located in a Pennsylvania town of the same name) offers a close-knit learning environment with strong student-faculty connections. It is known for its vibrant arts community and dedication to social justice, providing a comprehensive and enriching educational experience.
The school hosts unique educational events like the Creative Writing Program Reading Series, where students can listen to acclaimed authors share their works. First-year students participate in Balch Seminars, intense sessions focused on writing, reading, and discussion designed to enhance critical thinking and foster camaraderie among new students.
Bryn Mawr’s Praxis Program further allows students to apply their classroom learning to community-based projects and research for academic credit.
As a member of the Seven Sisters, Bryn Mawr students also have access to co-ed opportunities at nearby institutions like Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania.
2. Smith College
With a student body of just over 2,500, Smith College is one of the largest women’s liberal arts colleges in the country. It is a member of the Five Colleges Consortium and the Seven Sisters, a group of prestigious women’s liberal arts colleges in the Northeast.
With over 1000 classes in 83 programs, Smith also stands out for its extensive range of activities, including its diverse student groups, such as Smithies in Computer Science and Crapapella, one of several a cappella ensembles on campus.
Smith does not have traditional dormitories or Greek life. Instead, it has 35 unique residences, accommodating between 10 and 100 students each.
1. Wellesley College
Wellesley College, located just west of Boston in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is the second-largest women’s liberal arts college on this list.
It is one of the original Seven Sisters, alongside Mount Holyoke, Vassar, Smith, Radcliffe (now part of Harvard), Bryn Mawr, and Barnard. Students can choose from more than 50 predefined departmental and interdepartmental majors or design their own unique majors.
Students can access over 150 campus organizations and participate in 14 varsity athletic teams within the NCAA Division III East College Athletic Conference. Wellesley has societies that function as social and academic clubs rather than sororities. Housing is guaranteed for first-year students, with most students residing in Wellesley’s 21 halls throughout their college years.
About the author
Michelle Nati is a contributing writer to CollegeRecon who has written about higher education and finance for Granita Media/Big Edition site Work and Money. She's also written law content for Leaf Group's Legal Beagle site and is a ghostwriter of non-fiction books. She lives in Los Angeles and spends her spare time combing flea markets for vintage photos and decor and playing with her dogs, Jellybean and Jukebox.