Hobart and William Smith Colleges

In September 2024, The Wall Street Journal ranked Hobart and William Smith No. 4 in the nation for Student Experience. And with such a stellar experience on campus, it’s no wonder HWS students are some of the happiest in the country, as noted in the Princeton Review’s Best 390 Colleges: 2025, where HWS ranked 18th nationwide.

These recognitions are based on a wide range of criteria, from facilities related to student housing and cocurricular activities, to support for emotional and mental health and students’ sense of community. The Princeton Review ranking, which relies on student feedback, factors in the confidence they have in their futures, the impact of their classroom and research experiences, and their day-to-day interactions with members of the campus and Geneva communities.

A key pillar of the Further Together campaign, the student experience at HWS is centered on the importance of community, evident in the relationship-rich education students enjoy with faculty, coaches, staff and alumni.