Wesleyan University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 16.5%. Located on a 340-acre campus in Middletown, Connecticut, Wesleyan University is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. While Wesleyan has several graduate programs, the university has a predominantly undergraduate focus and the feel of a liberal arts college. Wesleyan has an impressive 8-to-1 student/faculty ratio, and the university's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences have earned it a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Students at Wesleyan are highly engaged in the campus community, and the university offers over 250 student groups and organizations. On the athletic front, Wesleyan competes in the NCAA Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Considering applying to this highly selective school? Here are the Wesleyan University statistics you should know.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Wesleyan University had an acceptance rate of 16.5%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 16 students were admitted, making Wesleyan's admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Wesleyan University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Wesleyan may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 63% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Wesleyan's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Wesleyan scored between 650 and 740, while 25% scored below 650 and 25% scored above 740. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 670 and 770, while 25% scored below 670 and 25% scored above 770. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1510 or higher is competitive for Wesleyan.

Requirements

Wesleyan University does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Wesleyan participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Wesleyan University does not require the optional essay portion of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Wesleyan University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Wesleyan may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 39% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores, most of Wesleyan's admitted students fall within the top 5% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Wesleyan University received a composite ACT score between 31 and 34, while 25% scored above 34 and 25% scored below 31.

Requirements

Wesleyan does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Wesleyan participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Wesleyan University does not require the optional ACT writing section.

GPA

Wesleyan University does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs. In 2019, 94% of admitted students who provided data indicated that they ranked in the top half of their high school class.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Wesleyan University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Wesleyan University, which accepts fewer than 20% of applicants, has a highly competitive admissions pool. However, Wesleyan also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The university is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Wesleyan recommends interviews for interested applicants. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Wesleyan's range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that most students who were accepted to Wesleyan had averages in the "A" range, SAT scores (ERW+M) above 1300, and ACT composite scores of 28 or higher. However, Wesleyan is test-optional, so other portions of the application are more important than test scores in the admission process.

If You Like Wesleyan University, You May Also Like These Schools

• Oberlin College
• Yale University
• Bowdoin College
• Haverford College

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Wesleyan University Undergraduate Admissions Office.