Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University was founded in 1831 and has a population of just over 3,200 students. The university is renowned for being one of the most productive liberal arts schools in the country. (A large number of students go on to complete their PhDs.) The institution has been deemed one of the “Little Ivies” and is a member of the “Little Three” (along with Amherst College and Williams College). Wesleyan has also been praised for its many opportunities for students to get involved on campus. Class sizes remain small with a student to faculty ratio of about 8 to 1. Approximately 75 percent of classes have less than 20 students.

Wesleyan offers 45 majors, 29 minors, and 3 certificate programs. The most popular majors are social sciences; psychology; area, ethnic, and gender studies; visual and performing arts; English; and biological/life sciences. Wesleyan University provides combined programs with the California Institute of Technology and Columbia University‘s School of Engineering. These allow undergrads to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years. There are also pre-professional opportunities in medicine, law and business.

Although academics are tough, Wesleyan University does not require a set of mandatory curriculum. Instead, there are 10 ‘capabilities’ that every student should have by graduation. These requirements can be met through a number of various courses or extracurricular activities. Nearly all students participate in the Writing Across the Curriculum program to help satisfy graduation requirements. Freshmen do have to complete First Year Initiative seminars, and the first two years should be spent taking at least two courses in natural sciences and mathematics, humanities and the arts, and social and behavioral sciences. Juniors and seniors are expected to take one course in each of these areas.

There are many opportunities to learn outside the classroom as well. Approximately half of all Wesleyan University students study abroad through 150 programs in over 50 countries. Students can also take part in the Twelve College Exchange where they can take classes on campuses at Amherst, Bowdoin, Connecticut College, Dartmouth, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Trinity, Vassar, Wellesley, Wheaton, and Williams. At Wesleyan, there are also a huge number of student groups on campus with more than 250 recognized organizations! There are also several fraternities, sororities, and secret societies like the Skull and Serpent group. Students can participate in publishing the oldest twice-weekly college newspaper, “The Wesleyan Argus.” Students interested in a flexible academic program and many opportunities for extracurriculars should investigate all Wesleyan University has to offer.

Early decision I: Nov. 15

Early decision II: Jan. 1

Regular decision: Jan. 1

Freshmen Admissions
Number of 2020 (Class of 2024) applicants: 12,752
Enrolled: 782
Yield: 35.3%
Acceptance rate: 20.7%

Early Decision Admissions
Number of applicants: 1,102
Admitted: 409
ED acceptance rate: 37.1%

Waitlist Admission Statistics
Number of waitlisted applicants: 1,076
Admitted off the waitlist: 94
Waitlist acceptance rate: 8.7%

Transfer Admissions
Number of transfer applicants: 489
Admitted transfer applicants: 134
Transfer acceptance rate: 27.4%

Grades
Average GPA: N/A
Top 10% of High School: 67%

Middle SAT Range (25 to 75 Percentile)
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 650-740
SAT Math: 670-770

Middle ACT Range (25 to 75 Percentile)
ACT Composite: 31-34
ACT English: 32-35
ACT Math: 28-33

Wesleyan University is test optional for US and Canadian school graduates. Home-schooled applicants should submit the ACT or SAT and 2 SAT Subject Tests.

Graduation Rates
4 years: 88.0%
5 years: 91.0%
6 years: 91.6%

Loan default rate: 1.4%

Transferred to another school: 6%

Total Rhodes Scholars: 14

Salary after attending: $54,700

R&D Expenditures: $8.95 million

Campus Safety
Sex offenses: 12
Robberies: 2
Aggravated assaults: 0
Burglaries: 8
Car thefts: 1

Tuition, room and board (2020-2021): $75,470

Total estimated cost of attendance (2020-2021): $78,435

Net Cost
Average: $21,853

By Income
$0 to $30,000: $3,967
$30,001 to $48,000: $7,740
$48,001 to $75,000: $12,969
$75,001 to $110,000: $19,281
$110,001 and more: $46,243

Graduates with student debt: 36%

Average student debt at graduation: $26,016

Student to Faculty Ratio: 7.9 to 1

Women: 54%

Undergraduate Class Sizes
Under 20: 75%
20 to 39: 18%
40 to 99: 6%
100+: 1%

Student Population
Total: 3,230
Undergraduate: 3,018

Student Residence
In State: 6%
Out of State: 80%
International: 14%