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Private 4-Year Selective Middletown, CT NCAA Division III with football

Wesleyan University

Middletown, CT

16.5%
Acceptance Rate
$92,964/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$30,177/yr
Avg Price After Aid
92.1%
6-yr Grad Rate
3,067
Undergrads

About Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit university with an acceptance rate of 16.5% and undergraduate enrollment of 3,067. It has an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 6-year graduation rate of 92.1%. The cost of attendance is $92,964, and the median earnings 10 years after enrollment are $73,897.

Type
Private 4-Year
Undergrads
3,067
Avg Faculty Salary
$126,901
Athletics
NCAA Division III with football
Endowment
$1.6B
Pell Students
14.2%
First-Gen
19.6%
What Wesleyan University Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Molecular Biochemistry 30 graduates · 3.9% of degrees here vs 0.02% nationally 241×
Science, Technology and Society 23 graduates · 3% of degrees here vs 0.03% nationally 106×
Behavioral Neuroscience 29 graduates · 3.8% of degrees here vs 0.07% nationally 58×
Film/Cinema/Media Studies 40 graduates · 5.2% of degrees here vs 0.21% nationally 25×
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 90 graduates · 11.7% of degrees here vs 0.76% nationally 15×
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
16.5%
Acceptance rate · Selective
38.4%
ED Rate
14,500
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$30,177 avg net
Average net price after aid
$4,871
Under $30K income
$1.6B
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$60,385 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
92.1%
6-yr Grad Rate
$17,000
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Wesleyan University Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
16.5%
14,500 applicants
Early Decision Rate
38.4%
ED applications: 1,309

Wesleyan University is a selective private institution with a 16.5% acceptance rate and an undergraduate enrollment of 3,067 students. The university maintains strong outcomes with a 92.1% six-year graduation rate and an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 6 applicants is admitted · 14,500 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1415–1540
40080012001600

Admissions Requirements

Admission Factor Weights
Official weights from submitted institutional data · Source: Common Data Set, section C7
Rigor of coursework Very Important
Class rank Important
Academic GPA Important
Standardized test scores Considered
Application essay Important
Recommendations Important
Class Rank Profile
25% of students submitted rank · Source: Common Data Set
Top 10th of class
78%
Top quarter
94%
Top half
99%
Waitlist Statistics
Source: Common Data Set
2,844
Offered spot
1,734
Accepted offer
5
Admitted from WL
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 5,772 1,054 18.3% 371
Women 8,728 1,425 16.3% 411
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Wesleyan University admits 16.5% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 74%.

Acceptance rate
This school
16.5%
Similar colleges (1,009)
73.8%
CT (24)
72.7%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Wesleyan University Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$30,177
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$17,000
Federal Loan Rate
16.3%
Students borrowing federal loans

Wesleyan University has a cost of attendance of $92,964 annually, while the average net price is $30,177. With 14.2% Pell grant recipients and a substantial $1.6 billion endowment, the university supports lower-income students.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$92,964
Tuition & Fees
$70,342
76%
Room & Board
$19,872
21%
Books & Supplies
$1,200
1%
Other Expenses
$1,550
2%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$4,871
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,604
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,175
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,294
Over $110,000
$51,140

* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
74%
Federal loans
16%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $180.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Wesleyan University costs $30,177 a year — about 34% more than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$89,020
Similar colleges (1,094)
$49,718
CT (29)
$39,426
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
73.9%
Similar colleges (998)
91.8%
CT (43)
89.6%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$17,000
Similar colleges (1,032)
$24,977
CT (47)
$17,000
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$30,177
Similar colleges (1,105)
$22,585
CT (49)
$21,634
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Wesleyan University Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
92.1%
Median Earnings 6yr
$60,385
6 years after entering

Wesleyan University has a 92.1% six-year graduation rate. Graduates earn a median of $60,385 six years after enrollment and $73,897 ten years after enrollment.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$65,191
Men
$54,018
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
92.7%
Pell recipients
93.7%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics90
Psychology, General73
Political Science and Government, General59
English Language and Literature, General45
Film/Cinema/Media Studies40
Molecular Biochemistry30
Behavioral Neuroscience29
Computer Science29
Biology/Biological Sciences, General28
Fine/Studio Arts, General24
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Black
95.1%
White
93.2%
Hispanic
90.5%
Asian
88%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Wesleyan University are $70,640, and 68% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Wesleyan University students earn $60,385 — 33% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$73,897
Similar colleges (1,077)
$54,064
CT (37)
$58,562
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$60,385
Similar colleges (1,077)
$45,468
CT (37)
$46,838
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
92.1%
Similar colleges (1,074)
58.1%
CT (26)
59.5%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
95.2%
Similar colleges (1,117)
76.6%
CT (27)
80.5%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Wesleyan University Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit institution with 3,067 undergraduates and an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It competes in NCAA Division III athletics, including football, with athletic revenue of $8.5 million.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
53.6%
Asian
9%
Hispanic
10.8%
Black
6%
Other Indicators
First-generation
19.6%
Pell grant recipients
14.2%
Women
52.2%
Wesleyan University Athletics
Total Revenue
$8.5M
Total Expense
$5.5M
Athletes
841
510 men · 331 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$89,679
Women's sports
$76,319

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Academic Resources
447
Full-time faculty
$126,901
Avg faculty salary
2,904
FT staff
$1.6B
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$133,888
Women (avg)
$119,883
Overall avg
$126,901
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
3,067
Graduate students
206
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
24.5%

727 of 2,962 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
1.6%
Undergrads taking any
1.6%
Grad students fully online
7.3%

49 of 3,066 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 15 of 205 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Wesleyan University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Wesleyan University spends $22,498 per student on research — about a typical similar college.

Pell grant share
This school
14.2%
Similar colleges (1,171)
32.8%
CT (49)
44%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$22,498
Similar colleges (1,164)
$6,264
CT (21)
$6,549
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
8:1
Similar colleges (1,191)
12:1
CT (49)
15:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Wesleyan University
44 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
766 graduates
Social Sciences 205 grads · 6 majors
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 90
Political Science and Government, General 59
Sociology, General 22
Social Sciences, Other 21
Anthropology, General 10
Archeology 3
Psychology 102 grads · 2 majors
Psychology, General 73
Behavioral Neuroscience 29
Visual and Performing Arts 98 grads · 6 majors
Film/Cinema/Media Studies 40
Fine/Studio Arts, General 24
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 16
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 7
Music, Other 7
Dance, General 4
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 66 grads · 9 majors
American/United States Studies/Civilization 20
African-American/Black Studies 11
East Asian Studies 10
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and... 8
French Studies 6
Spanish and Iberian Studies 6
Latin American Studies 2
Russian Studies 2
Italian Studies 1
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 58 grads · 2 majors
Molecular Biochemistry 30
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 28
English Language and Literature 51 grads · 2 majors
English Language and Literature, General 45
English Language and Literature/Letters,... 6
Physical Sciences 39 grads · 4 majors
Physics, General 18
Chemistry, General 9
Astronomy 6
Physical Sciences, General 6
Computer and Information Sciences 29 grads · 1 major
Computer Science 29
Multidisciplinary Studies 28 grads · 4 majors
Science, Technology and Society 23
Ancient Studies/Civilization 3
Biological and Physical Sciences 1
Medieval and Renaissance Studies 1
Philosophy and Religious Studies 19 grads · 2 majors
Philosophy 14
Religion/Religious Studies 5
Natural Resources and Conservation 18 grads · 1 major
Environmental Studies 18
History 17 grads · 1 major
History, General 17
Education 13 grads · 1 major
Social and Philosophical Foundations of... 13
Liberal Arts and General Studies 10 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 10
Mathematics and Statistics 10 grads · 1 major
Mathematics, General 10
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 3 grads · 1 major
Romance Languages, Literatures, and... 3
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Wesleyan University Location & Campus Safety

Wesleyan University is in Middletown, CT, in what IPEDS classifies as a small city setting. The campus sits about 0.4 miles from the center of Middletown. There are 11 other colleges within 25 miles, and Hartford, CT is 14.7 miles away.

Wesleyan University
Small city
Campus Setting
0.4 mi
To City Center
11
Colleges Within 25 mi
47,646
Middletown Population
Living in Middletown
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,392
Median Rent / mo
$73,979
Median Household Income
30.2%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
70.3%
Walk
5.6%
Public transit
1.3%

Undergraduates make up about 10.9% of Middletown's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index

Campus Safety at Wesleyan University

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Wesleyan University reported for 2024.

11
On-Campus Offenses
8
In Residence Halls
2.7
Per 1,000 Students
2
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
9
2023
6
2024
11
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Burglary
6
Motor vehicle theft
2
Sexual offenses
2
Arson
1

Separately, Wesleyan University reported 113 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Wesleyan University admissions, costs, and outcomes.