Wesleyan University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know
Overview of Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college situated on a 340-acre campus in Middletown, Connecticut. While Wesleyan has several graduate programs, the university has the feel of a liberal arts college and a predominantly undergraduate focus. Students are backed by a robust student/faculty ratio, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s over 200 clubs and organizations. On the athletic front, Wesleyan plays in the NCAA Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference. The university fields 28 varsity teams.
Enrollment
- Total Enrollment: 3,217 (3,009 undergraduates)
- Gender Breakdown: 45 percent male/55 percent female
- 97 percent full-time
Cost of Attendance Information
- Tuition and Fees: $57,004
- Books: $1,200
- Room and Board: $16,799
- Other Expenses: $1,465
- Total Cost: $76,468
Financial Aid Information
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 47 percent
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 42 percent
- Loans: 27 percent
- Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $47,713
- Loans: $4,872
Academic Programs Offered
- Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences; Psychology; Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies; Visual and Performing Arts; and Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Retention and Graduation
- First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 96 percent
- Transfer-Out Rate: 7 percent
- 4-Year Graduation Rate: 84 percent
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 89 percent
NCAA Athletic Programs
- Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling, Squash
- Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Squash
Overview of Wesleyan University Admissions
Wesleyan University, which accepts fewer than 20% of applicants, has a highly competitive admissions pool. The institution is test-optional, meaning that students can choose whether or not to submit scores from the SAT or ACT. It has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. Applicants must complete an online application. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.
Admissions Data
Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, Wesleyan University had an acceptance rate of 17%. For every 100 students who submitted applications, 17 students gained admission, making Wesleyan’s admissions procedure highly competitive.
SAT Requirements and Scores
Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 56% of students provided SAT scores. This admissions data reveals of those students who provided scores Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Wesleyan’s students fall within the top 20% nationally on SAT. 50% of admitted students scored between 660 and 740 on the evidence-based reading and writing part, while 25% scored under 660 and 25% scored over 740. 50% of students scored between 660 and 760 on the math part, while 25% scored under 660, and 25% scored over 760. While the SAT is not optional, this data reveals that a cumulative SAT score of 1500 or higher is competitive for Wesleyan.
ACT Requirements and Scores
Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 45% of students provided ACT scores. This admissions data reveals that of those students who provided scores, most of Wesleyan’s students fall within the top 7% on the ACT. The middle 50% of students received a cumulative ACT score between 30 and 34, while 25% scored over 34 and 25% scored under 30.
GPA
Wesleyan University does not provide data about students’ high school GPAs.
Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission
If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Wesleyan University, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Wesleyan University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.
University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Dallas, Stony Brook University, University of Connecticut, Rochester Institute of Technology, American University, Drexel University
Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission
If you’re a competitive candidate for Wesleyan University, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.
University of California, Berkeley, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Villanova University, Southern Methodist University, University of Maryland, Binghamton University
Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge
These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Wesleyan University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.
Tufts University, Northeastern University, Georgetown University, New York University, University of Southern California, University of Michigan, Emory University
Applying to Wesleyan University
Application Deadline: January 1
Undergraduate Admissions Website:
https://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/informationfor/firstyear.html
Undergraduate Application Link(s):
https://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/apply/index.html
Graduate Admissions Website:
https://www.wesleyan.edu/grad/index.html
Graduate Application Link(s):
https://admission.wesleyan.edu/apply/