Wesleyan University

Middletown, CT

Wesleyan University was founded in 1831 in Middletown, Connecticut, and today enrolls about 3,000 full-time undergraduates at a 7-to-1 student-faculty ratio. It offers an open curriculum that, per the university, "champions the belief that student choice fosters the drive to explore freely" across disciplines. Wesleyan describes its character as combining "boldness, rigor, and practical idealism."

Admissions

Admit rate16%

SAT range1415–1540

ACT range33–35

Undergrads3,067

Yield (admits who enroll)35%

Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry

Early Decision I: Nov 15, 2026
Early Decision II: Jan 1, 2027
Regular Decision: Jan 1, 2027

Confirm on Wesleyan University's own admissions site before you apply.

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$89,0202024-25

Tuition & fees$70,3422024-25

4-year grad rate92%

Median earnings, 10yr out$73,897

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.

Where do you stand against Wesleyan University's numbers?

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How Wesleyan University weighs your application

From Wesleyan University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors

Rigor of secondary school recordVery important

Class rankVery important

Academic GPAVery important

Standardized test scoresConsidered

Application essayImportant

RecommendationsImportant

Nonacademic factors

InterviewImportant

Extracurricular activitiesImportant

Talent/abilityImportant

Character/personal qualitiesImportant

First generationConsidered

Alumni relation (legacy)Considered

Geographical residenceConsidered

State residencyNot considered

Religious affiliationNot considered

Volunteer workImportant

Work experienceImportant

Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Important

BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Wesleyan University actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed

What applicants who posted their results listed

30 self-reported applicant profiles from public posts, 2024–25 and 2025–26 admissions cycles: 10 admitted, 20 rejected or waitlisted. Figures read admitted vs. rejected or waitlisted.

Median unweighted GPA3.92 vs 3.80

Median SAT (where sent)1520 vs 1530

Listed a national-level award50% vs 85%

Most common activities

AdmittedRejected or waitlisted

Community service

70%

50%

Tutoring & teaching

60%

45%

Clubs & honor societies

50%

60%

Sports

50%

25%

Research

40%

Selective summer program

40%

20%

Student government

30%

50%

Arts, theater & writing

30%

35%

Most common awards among admits

School award · 70%Competition placement · 60%AP Scholar · 50%

Who posted

Public high school · 54%Private or boarding school · 33%First-generation · 58%International · 10%

How this compares across selective liberal arts colleges: Liberal Arts College Accepted vs. Rejected Applicants →

These are people who chose to post their results publicly, mostly on Reddit -- a group that skews toward high scores and STEM. They describe posters, not Wesleyan University's admitted class, and recruited athletes are left out. For official numbers, use the admissions figures above.

See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Wesleyan University weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans16%

Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out88%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$71,932/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes

Required to live on campusYes

Dormitory capacity3,006

Typical room chargeNot reported

Typical board chargeNot reported

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required

Class rankConsidered, not required

RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Wesleyan University look for in applicants?

Per Wesleyan University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates class rank, academic GPA, rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Wesleyan University's acceptance rate?

Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT admits approximately 16% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Wesleyan University?

Admitted students at Wesleyan University typically score between 1415–1540 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Wesleyan University?

Admitted students at Wesleyan University typically score between 33–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Wesleyan University cost?

Wesleyan University's total cost of attendance is reported at $89,020 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Wesleyan University?

Wesleyan University's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 15, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 1, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 1, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Wesleyan University require students to live on campus?

Yes -- Wesleyan University requires students to live in on-campus housing.

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