First Year Student Profile
It is not possible to fully convey the individual strengths and differences among students selected for Wesleyan in a statistical profile. What this data illustrates are some attributes valued in the admission process. While no specific high school program of study is prescribed, admitted students make the most of their secondary school education through AP courses, IB programs, local college classes, or challenging teachers. Their curiosity and love of learning stand out.
Wesleyan enrolls a total of approximately 3,200 undergraduate students, and we currently enroll around 800 first-year students and 30 transfer students each fall.
It is not possible to fully convey the individual strengths and differences among students selected for Wesleyan in a statistical profile. What we hope to illustrate with this data are some of the attributes we value in the admission process:
- While no specific high school program of study is prescribed for admission, admitted students made the most of their secondary school educations, whether through AP courses, International Baccalaureate Diploma, local college courses, or simply the most challenging teachers. Their curiosity and love of learning travel with them.
- Although rank in Class and ACT or SAT are generally quite strong, more significant in our assessment are the rigor of academic programs and strength of teacher recommendations.
- Admitted students are diverse in nationality, region, first language, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.
- We find that successful students who have developed a variety of talents and made commitments to school activities, civic and religious organizations, politics, and the arts are more likely to contribute to the life of this dynamically diverse Wesleyan community.
Profile of Students Offered Admission for Fall 2024
14,828 Applications Received | 2,372 Admitted (16%)
- Class size: 824
- 45% of admitted students are legal sex male, 55% are legal sex female
- 80% of admits live outside New England; 13.7% live in 65 other countries including Burundi, Egypt, Ghana, Jamaica, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe
- English is an additional language for 17% of admitted students
- 11% of admits are international students
- 41% of admits are domestic students of color
- 50% of admits are students of color (including international)
- 15% of admits are the first generation in their family to attend college
- 3% of admits have a Wesleyan parent
- 43% of admits applied for need-based aid (Wesleyan meets the full demonstrated need of all those admitted)
- 1309 applied in Early Decision (9% of applicants) and 512 were admitted (22% of admission offers)
- 46 are QuestBridge National College Match Finalists (sixteenth year in partnership with QuestBridge)
- 16 are Military Veteran Scholars (8 admitted as Transfers)
- HS Preparation:
- 85% have taken calculus
- 79% have taken biology, chemistry and physics
- 77% have a fourth year (or equivalent) of one foreign language
First Year Student Profile
| Class* | 2024** | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 12,752 | 13,145 | 14,521 | 14,500 | 14,828 |
| Admitted | 2,640 | 2,540 | 2,097 | 2,480 | 2,372 |
| Matriculants | 782 | 919 | 753 | 793 | 824 |
| Legal Sex | |||||
| Male | 40% | 47% | 49% | 47% | 47% |
| Female | 60% | 53% | 51% | 53% | 53% |
| Gender Identity | |||||
| Male | 49% | 46% | 46% | ||
| Female | 49% | 50% | 51% | ||
| Nonbinary | 2% | 5% | 4% | ||
| Geography (Residence) | |||||
| New England | 20% | 23% | 21% | 26% | 22% |
| Mid-Atlantic | 38% | 36% | 35% | 32% | 36% |
| Mid-West | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| South | 6% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 6% |
| West | 17% | 21% | 20% | 17% | 18% |
| Outside the USA | 14% | 10% | 13% | 16% | 14% |
| Secondary School (Domestic): | |||||
| Public | 53% | 53% | 50% | 51% | 56% |
| Admitted in Early Decision | 50% | 51% | 54% | 56% | 61% |
| Domestic Students of Color*** | 33% | 33% | 32% | 32% | 32% |
| Students of Color (including international)*** | 41% | 39% | 42% | 43% | 42% |
| Asian/Asian-American | 21% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 22% |
| Black/African-American | 9% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 12% |
| Latino/Hispanic | 13% | 12% | 11% | 10% | 12% |
| Multi-racial | 20% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 16% |
| Native American/Alaskan or Native Hawaiian/ Pac Island | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| International Students | 10% | 8% | 11% | 12% | 12% |
| Wesleyan Parent Legacy | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 4% |
| First Generation to Four-Year College | 14% | 10% | 13% | 14% | 17% |
| Financial Aid | 43% | 46% | 42% | 46% | 52% |
| Grant Aid | 37% | 42% | 38% | 41% | 46% |
| Academic Program in HS | |||||
| Math through Calculus | 81% | 79% | 80% | 81% | 79% |
| Biology, Chemistry and Physics | 79% | 82% | 80% | 81% | 74% |
| Foreign Language IV | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 72% |
| Class Ranking | |||||
| Class Rank Reported | 28% | 25% | 25% | 20% | 23% |
| Top 10% | 69% | 76% | 79% | 80% | 79% |
| Top 20% | 93% | 91% | 92% | 95% | 94% |
| ACT Median | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 |
| SAT Medians: | |||||
| ERW | 730 | 750 | 740 | 750 | 740 |
| Math | 750 | 750 | 760 | 760 | 750 |
| Transfer Matriculants, Fall | 32 | 36 | 43 | 40 | 48 |
| Total New Students Enrolling | 814 | 955 | 796 | 833 | 872 |
*Starting with the Class of 2028, final data will be as of fall census. Prior year data reflects August 1st.
**The Class of 2024 was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and should be considered in that context. Forty-seven first-year students delayed enrollment until the Spring of 2021. They were included as part of the Class of 2024.
***Student of color reporting reflects self-identification rather than conformity with federal reporting.
Class of 2028 Racial and Ethnic Identity
| Identity | Federal Reporting Guidelines | All Self-Reported Identities (Domestic) | All Self-Reported Identities (incl Inter'l) |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | <1% | 1% | 2% |
| Asian American | 8% | 14% | 22% |
| Black or African American | 6% | 10% | 12% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 11% | 11% | 12% |
| Multiracial | 7% | 16% | 16% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | - | - | - |
| White | 50% | 62% | 63% |
| Did not report | 6% | 6% | 7% |
| International | 12% | - | 12% |
Total Undergraduate Racial and Ethnic Identity
| Identity | Federal Reporting Guidelines | All Self-Reported Identities (Domestic) | All Self-Reported Identities (incl Inter'l) |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | <1% | 1% | 1% |
| Asian American | 9% | 15% | 22% |
| Black or African American | 6% | 10% | 11% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 11% | 11% | 11% |
| Multiracial | 7% | 7% | 16% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | - | <1% | <1% |
| White | 54% | 67% | 68% |
| Did not report | 3% | 3% | 4% |
| International | 10% | - | 10% |
ACT and SAT Scores
Our holistic application review process evaluates your entire high school transcript, including course selection and grades achieved. We do not calculate an average GPA for admitted students, nor do we recalculate high school core GPA.
| ACT Comp | SAT ERW | SAT Math | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admit 75th percentile: | 35 | 770 | 790 |
| Admit Median: | 34 | 750 | 780 |
| Admit 25th percentile: | 33 | 730 | 750 |
59% of admits asked to have test scores considered in the admission process
