Wesleyan University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Wesleyan University is a private institution located in Middletown, Connecticut and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Wesleyan University admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 16%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1420 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,177 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Wesleyan University?

Most admitted students at Wesleyan University present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.

What does Wesleyan University weight in admissions?

Wesleyan University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Wesleyan University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 700. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Wesleyan University actually cost?

Published tuition is $70,342 for in-state students and $70,342 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,872 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $30,177 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Wesleyan University

Will my child graduate from Wesleyan University?

These predict outcomes at Wesleyan University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Wesleyan University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Wesleyan University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Economics and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Wesleyan University confers roughly 673 bachelor's degrees a year. What these figures mean

Is Wesleyan University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Wesleyan University disclosed 13 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 2 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Wesleyan University?

About 99% of undergraduates at Wesleyan University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 4% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Connecticut parents ask about

• Connecticut College
  37% acceptance
• Fairfield University
  33% acceptance
• Yale University
  4% acceptance
• University of Connecticut
  52% acceptance
• University of Hartford
  96% acceptance
• Trinity College
  29% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
  16% acceptance · Michigan
• Colorado College
  18% acceptance · Colorado

Common questions parents ask about Wesleyan University