Wesleyan University

For Fall 2025, 14,973 first-year students applied to Wesleyan, 2,451 were admitted and 825 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 16.4%.

Source: Wesleyan Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025

Source: Wesleyan Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By school or major. Wesleyan's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by department or major. You apply to Wesleyan, not to a major.

Source: Wesleyan Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Early decision. Early decision counts for the Fall 2025 entering class, as the Common Data Set reports them, with both rounds together. They are part of the totals above. Wesleyan has no early action plan.

Early decision, Fall 2025

Source: Wesleyan Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Every first-year applicant sends the same application, whatever they plan to study. Two groups can or must send more:

• Arts. Optional: you may send supporting work in music, theater, visual arts, film or dance through SlideRoom, which opens from the Common App.
• Homeschooled applicants. Required: SAT or ACT scores from the last twelve months, a homeschool transcript, course descriptions, a program profile from the parent or educator, and letters from people who can assess your academic work.

Source: Wesleyan Admission, First Year Applicants (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

47 majors across 4 schools. Every undergraduate major on Wesleyan's Areas of Study list, grouped by the academic division the list names for it. Minors, certificates and graduate programs are left out.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Financial aid applications are due November 15 for Early Decision I, January 1 for Early Decision II and January 15 for Regular Decision. The application fee is $65, waived for every applicant who applies for financial aid.

Source: Wesleyan Admission, Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Early Decision is binding. Your signed Early Decision Agreement, also signed by a parent or guardian, is due by the deadline: it says Wesleyan is your first choice, that you will accept an offer of admission, withdraw your other applications and start no new ones. If you want to apply to more than one college, apply Regular Decision. International citizens may apply Early Decision only if they are not applying for financial aid.

Source: Wesleyan Admission, Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Wesleyan has been test-optional since applicants for 2015 entry. You decide whether your SAT or ACT scores are considered: if they are in your application they are considered, and if not, they are not factored in and do not count against you. There is no minimum score. If you send scores, Wesleyan uses your best section scores across test dates, for both the SAT and the ACT.

Source: Wesleyan Admission, FAQ (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 applicants, but considered if submitted, with scores due by February 15.

Source: Wesleyan Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028

Not announced yet. When we checked Wesleyan's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.

Source: Wesleyan Admission, First Year Applicants (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The published cost of a year at Wesleyan, 2026-2027:

For a first-year student; every Wesleyan undergraduate lives in University housing on a University meal plan. Not included: the optional $50 Green Fund fee, a $44 loan fee if you take federal Direct Loans, and travel, which Wesleyan counts in your aid budget but does not list.

Source: Wesleyan Admission, Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:

What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Wesleyan's aid offer.

Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Chosen for how close each is to Wesleyan University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.

• Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA · Private14.8% admitted$25,496 average net price
• Bates CollegeLewiston, ME · Private14.8% admitted$29,351 average net price
• Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA · Private13.9% admitted$41,704 average net price
• Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, VT · Private12.8% admitted$31,483 average net price
• Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY · Private17.5% admitted$28,786 average net price

Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.