Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, one of the "Little Ivies" and long known for its intellectual independence, strong arts and film culture, and open curriculum. With about 3,070 undergraduates and a 7-to-1 student-faculty ratio, it pairs the intimacy of a liberal arts college with the research breadth of a university. Admission is highly selective — Wesleyan admitted roughly 16% of more than 14,300 applicants for the Fall 2024 class, and enrolled first-years who submitted scores posted middle-50% SATs of 1300–1500 and 31–34 on the ACT. The social sciences, psychology, and the arts are the most-conferred fields, and Wesleyan is test-optional and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans.
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Wesleyan admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Wesleyan offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~2.7× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Wesleyan is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Wesleyan's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 23.3% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Wesleyan does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Wesleyan weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Wesleyan's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency. Books and personal expenses aren't itemized in this Common Data Set.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Wesleyan admissions
Is it hard to get into Wesleyan University?＋
Yes — Wesleyan is highly selective, admitting about 16.5% of applicants in the Fall 2024 cycle, with roughly 2,373 offers to a pool of more than 14,300 and 825 first-years enrolling. There is no single cutoff that guarantees admission; the rigor of your high school course load is the one factor Wesleyan weighs as very important, with GPA, class rank, the essay, and recommendations all important in its holistic review.
Does applying Early Decision improve your chances at Wesleyan?＋
Wesleyan offers binding Early Decision in two rounds (ED I and ED II), and the early round is admitted at a higher rate than the overall pool. Of 1,309 Early Decision applicants, 502 were admitted — roughly a 38% ED admit rate, well above the 16.5% overall acceptance rate. ED is binding, so apply early only if Wesleyan is your clear first choice.
Does Wesleyan require the SAT or ACT?＋
No — Wesleyan is test-optional, so you may apply without submitting scores. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1300–1500 on the SAT and 31–34 on the ACT; about 41% submitted SAT scores and roughly 17% submitted the ACT. If your scores fall in or above those ranges they can strengthen your file, but standardized tests are only a 'considered' factor in admissions.
Does Wesleyan have a supplemental essay, and does the essay matter?＋
The essay carries real weight at Wesleyan, which rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review — above standardized test scores, which are only 'considered.' With admission this competitive at a 16.5% acceptance rate, your essay is one of the clearest places to stand out, so a specific, well-revised personal statement is worth the investment.
What GPA and class rank do you need for Wesleyan?＋
Wesleyan does not publish an average admitted GPA, but enrolled first-years sit near the top of their high school classes — among those who reported a rank, about 78% were in the top tenth of their graduating class and 94% in the top quarter. There is no hard cutoff; the rigor of your course load is weighed as very important, with GPA and class rank both treated as important factors.
How much does Wesleyan cost, and does it meet financial need?＋
Tuition and required fees are about $72,828 per year, with the total cost of attendance higher once on-campus housing and food (about $20,668) are added. Wesleyan meets 100% of demonstrated financial need and runs a no-loan program; about 46% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average first-year need-based package near $75,903.
What are the most popular majors at Wesleyan?＋
The social sciences are the most-conferred field at about 25% of bachelor's degrees, followed by psychology (14%) and the visual and performing arts (13%). Area and ethnic studies, the biological sciences, and English round out the top fields, reflecting Wesleyan's strength across the humanities, sciences, and arts as one of the 'Little Ivies.'
Source: Wesleyan University Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-26. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Wesleyan. Banner photo by Smartalic34, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).