Wesleyan University
#1 Best Online Colleges in Connecticut- Graduation Rate
- 92% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $73,897 A
- Top 6% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $30,177 F
- 76% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 16% A
- Admits roughly 16% — highly selective
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.8 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Online Colleges in Connecticut.
Every $1 spent returns $15.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,783,812.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 81% more than the national college median.
-
A 92% graduation rate — 61% above the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $15.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wesleyan University Matters
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Middletown, CT and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 6% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 3,067
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Wesleyan University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 16% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1415–1540. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $30,177 a year after grants and scholarships — 76% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $73,897 ten years after enrolling — 81% above the typical college, against $17,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 29% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.50 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Wesleyan University has a graduation rate of 92%, highlighting its commitment to student success. This high rate indicates that most students who enroll complete their degrees, which is a key factor for those evaluating college options.
Earnings data shows that graduates earn an average of $73,897 ten years after starting their studies. This figure suggests that a Wesleyan degree can lead to solid financial outcomes, though specific mobility data is not available. The school serves a diverse group of students, reflected in its Pell Grant rate of 14%, which indicates a commitment to supporting low-income students.
The net price to attend Wesleyan is $30,177, with a median debt of $17,000 for graduates. This financial landscape suggests that while the cost is significant, many students manage to graduate with relatively low debt. Students who thrive here are likely those interested in disciplines such as social sciences, psychology, and the arts, where they can engage deeply in their studies and benefit from the university's supportive environment.
Rankings
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Connecticut
- #1 Best Psychology Colleges in Connecticut
- #2 Best Colleges in Connecticut
- #2 Best Bachelor's Programs in Connecticut
- #2 Best Master's Programs in Connecticut
- #2 Best Computer Science Colleges in Connecticut
- #2 Best Data Science Colleges in Connecticut
- #3 Best Biology Colleges in Connecticut
Can I Get In?
How selective Wesleyan University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wesleyan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Middletown, Connecticut, Wesleyan University sets a competitive bar: about 16% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,501. The graduation rate is roughly 92%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 16%
- Retention Rate
- 95%
- SAT Average
- 1501
- ACT Midpoint
- 33
- SAT Range
- 1415–1540
- ACT Range
- 33–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 90%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,100
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 14,521
- Admitted
- 2,096
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Wesleyan University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 35% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 35%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 41%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 17%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 38.3%
- vs 16.5% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 1,309 Early Decision applicants, 502 were admitted — a 38.3% admit rate, roughly 2.3× the 16.5% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 61% of the entering class (502 of 825 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 58% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wesleyan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wesleyan University is $70,342, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,177. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,871 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $70,342
- Out-of-State
- $70,342
- Avg Net Price
- $30,177
- Median Debt
- $17,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 14%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 16%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,871
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,604
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,175
- Family Income $110K+
- $51,140
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Wesleyan University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Wesleyan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wesleyan University earn a median of $73,897, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $60,385
- 8 Years
- $70,640
- 10 Years
- $73,897
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (649)
- 87%
- 100% (649)
- 87%
- 100% (649)
- 87%
- 100% (649)
- 87%
How Wesleyan Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Wesleyan University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wesleyan University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $30,177/year ($120,708 total). Graduates earn $73,897 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,904,520 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,783,812 (15.8× your investment). The median debt is $17,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 92% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $120,708
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,904,520
- Net Return
- $1,783,812
- ROI Multiple
- 15.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $30,177
- Median Debt
- $17,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 92%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Wesleyan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wesleyan University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.96%, well above the typical college. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 46.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $165,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.96%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 46.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $224,585
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-84,741,000
Top Programs
The fields Wesleyan University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 26%
- Psychology 14%
- Visual & Performing Arts 11%
- Biology & Biomedical 7%
- English & Literature 6%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Physical Sciences 4%
- Mathematics & Statistics 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Wesleyan University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wesleyan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Middletown, Connecticut, Wesleyan University sets a competitive bar: about 16% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,501. The graduation rate is roughly 92%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wesleyan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wesleyan University is $70,342, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,177. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,871 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,000 in federal student loans.
Is Wesleyan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wesleyan University earn a median of $73,897, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Wesleyan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wesleyan University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.96%, well above the typical college. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 46.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $165,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wesleyan University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wesleyan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.50, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Wesleyan University offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Wesleyan University offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 38%, about 2.3 times the overall 16% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 61% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Wesleyan University is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Wesleyan University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 58% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Wesleyan University (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Wesleyan University?
About 35% of admitted students choose to enroll at Wesleyan University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare Wesleyan University
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wesleyan University.
- Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, VT · Close peer92% grad $76,310 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY · Close peer82% grad $69,363 earn 21% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Barnard CollegeNew York, NY · Close peer93% grad $80,516 earn 9% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY · Close peer91% grad $78,411 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, VA · Close peer86% grad $76,178 earn 22% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Close peer90% grad $75,525 earn 20% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wesleyan University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wesleyan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.50, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note