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Middletown , CT
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university located in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831, Wesleyan is known for its strong commitment to intellectual exploration and its diverse and vibrant academic community. With about 3,000 undergraduate students and a student-faculty ratio of 8:1, the university offers a highly personalized education that fosters close relationships between students and faculty.
At Wesleyan, students have the freedom to design their own academic paths through its open curriculum system. This means that there are no required core courses, allowing students to pursue their interests across a broad range of fields. The university offers more than 45 majors and 900 courses in various disciplines, from the humanities and social sciences to natural sciences and mathematics. Wesleyan promotes interdisciplinary education, encouraging students to blend subjects and approach complex problems from multiple perspectives.
Wesleyan is also renowned for its strong arts programs. The university supports a vibrant arts scene, with a wide array of courses, exhibitions, performances, and creative opportunities. It has well-regarded departments in film, dance, visual arts, music, and theater, attracting aspiring artists from around the world. On top of its academic offerings, Wesleyan is known for its active student organizations, competitive athletic teams, and commitment to social justice issues, making it a dynamic and intellectually stimulating community for students to explore their passions and develop their skills.
Located in Middletown, CT, Wesleyan University is a private university. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 16%. The freshman retention rate at Wesleyan University is 94.88% and the six-year graduation rate is 93%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Wesleyan University.
Quick Facts
3,805
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$72,438
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
93%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Discover some essential information about admission at Wesleyan University.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,373 in 2025. Wesleyan University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Wesleyan University offers a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 40.61% and ACT scores 17.33%. 55.82% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 32.84% between 1,200 and 1,399, 10.44% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 0.9% between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 84.62, 11.19 between 24-29 and 4.19 in the range between 18-23.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 698 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 684.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Wesleyan University was 94.88% in 2025, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 93%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the optimal match for you is not easy. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Wesleyan University in 2025 was 4,011.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 89.97. There was a total of 3,805 undergraduate students, including 304 international students. The school admitted a total of 48 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,525 male and 1,674 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 277, while the number of Afro-American students was 185. 331 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 220 as multirace. There were also 105 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Wesleyan University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $72,438 in 2025. Since Wesleyan University is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $390 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant financial element. Most students have to allocate about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Wesleyan University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Wesleyan University was $20,668 in 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 72,438 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,668 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 94,306 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for most students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Wesleyan University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 381 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $74,808 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,301 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Wesleyan University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 1,302. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $4,127,254, and state $11,700. The students of Wesleyan University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $87,042,256, and external in the amount of $2,426,139.
$24,512
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 42 students overall (including freshmen) at Wesleyan University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 13 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $755,783. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,525,900 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Wesleyan University was 7:1: that means 7 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 477 faculty members at this school. This number included 242 men and 235 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Wesleyan University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Wesleyan University.
Its campus is 315 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 200 open-membership organizations at Wesleyan University. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The most popular student organization is Environmental/Sustainability Groups, followed by Performance Groups and Identity Groups. Other popular organizations among the students at Wesleyan University are Club Sports and Political/Activism Groups.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Wesleyan University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Wesleyan University provides a number of services necessary for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Wesleyan University.
All in all, campus life at Wesleyan University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Wesleyan University.
Career Counselling
At Wesleyan University, there is both group career counseling for full-time students and individual career counseling for full-time students. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for full-time students only. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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Wesleyan University is located in Middletown, CT.
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Wesleyan University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Wesleyan University is 72,438 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Wesleyan University is 16%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Wesleyan University is 94.88%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
