Hobart & William Smith Colleges

Located on 195 acres in the heart of New York State’s Finger Lakes Region, Hobart and William Smith are independent liberal arts colleges distinctive for providing highly individualized educations. Guided by an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in exploration and rigor, the Colleges prepare students to think critically. In partnership with the Geneva and global communities and through robust programs in career development, study-abroad, service, leadership and athletics, the Colleges foster an environment that values global citizenship, teamwork, ethics, inclusive excellence, and cultural competence. Under the mentorship of faculty, Hobart and William Smith students gain the necessary clarity to be competitive when seeking employment. They win prestigious fellowships like the Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, Udall, Fulbright and Goldwater. They gain admittance to the best graduate programs in the country. They go on to lead lives of consequence. The Colleges enjoy a rich heritage based on a two-college system rooted in interdisciplinary teaching and research. Originally founded as two separate colleges (Hobart for men in 1822 and William Smith for women in 1908), HWS now operates under a coordinate college system. All students share the same campus, faculty, administration and curriculum. Each college maintains its own traditions, deans, student government and athletic department. Men graduate from Hobart College. Women graduate from William Smith College.