Each Freeman Scholar receives a scholarship to cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room and board, supplies, and travel to and from home country, totaling over $90,000 in funding.  

The first Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholars enrolled at Wesleyan in September of 1995. The Freeman Foundation, creator of the Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program, was established in 1994 through the bequest of Mansfield Freeman, a businessman, benefactor, scholar and longtime resident in Asia who was a member of the Wesleyan University Class of 1916. Mr. Freeman was an insurance executive and one of the original founders of the American International Group, Inc. (AIG). The New York-based Freeman Foundation, which established the Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program in memory of Mansfield Freeman, is administered primarily by the Freeman family; its charitable efforts are directed mainly toward bettering relationships and understanding between the United States and the countries of East Asia.  

After 20 years of generous support by the Freeman Foundation, Wesleyan continues to honor that legacy through this institutional scholarship, which aims to improve understanding and strengthen ties between the United States and the countries of the Pacific Rim.   

Applicants to Wesleyan are eligible to be considered for the Freeman Asian Scholarship if they meet the following criteria: 

• Are citizens or permanent residents of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand or Vietnam, and are NOT dual U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.  

• Apply for need-based financial aid at the time of applying to Wesleyan, and have demonstrated financial need. 

• Have not previously enrolled full-time in college or university. 

Candidates who meet the above criteria will be automatically considered for the scholarship once they have applied for admission to Wesleyan. There is no separate application process.  

 *Please note: candidates who must fulfill a military service requirement after secondary school completion should apply in the year they would be able to enroll at Wesleyan. 

The selection process for Freeman Asian Scholarship Program is extremely competitive. Selection criteria for the Freeman Scholarship include exemplary academic achievement; intellectual curiosity; a high level of discipline and commitment; personal qualities; community involvement; leadership potential; and English language ability.

Finalists for the scholarship may be invited to participate in an informal virtual interview conducted by alumni of the Freeman Asian Scholarship Program. Outside of these alumni interviews, Wesleyan does not offer evaluative interviews to applicants. We will, however, accept InitialView interviews as an optional component of the application. 

While Wesleyan has a test-optional policy for SAT and ACT, we encourage students from international curriculum schools that are not exam-based to consider submitting SAT or ACT results. In addition to serving as evidence of academic potential and achievement, these results can be used to demonstrate English proficiency.

Please see our International Applicants page for more on our recommendations for English Proficiency testing. 

The application materials required to be considered for the Freeman Scholarship are the same materials as for other international citizens seeking financial aid. See International Applicants and  Financial Aid for International Applicants for more information. 

Finalists for the Freeman Scholarship may also be invited to participate in an informal virtual interview conducted by alumni of the Freeman Asian Scholarship Program. 

Awardees will be notified on the Regular Decision release date. Wesleyan will provide the necessary forms for obtaining an F-1 student visa to the United States. 

International citizens applying for financial aid will not be considered for admission through Early Decision. Any international citizen seeking financial aid who is competitive for admission will be deferred to Regular Decision for consideration. This includes candidates for the Freeman Scholarship.