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Rank: 131

Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University, along with Amherst and Williams colleges, is one of the historic "Little Three," a trio of prestigious liberal arts schools in New England. Founded in 1831 by Methodists, it has about 3,000 students -- most of them women; they tend to be thoughtful, independent, progressive, and politically aware. Academics are generally characterized by small classes and professors who actively engage with students in programs like the social and political sciences, psychology, and the visual and performing arts. Wesleyan has a generous financial aid policy that offers most students from families that earn under $60,000 a year an aid package with no loans. It's not just affordable, it's also famous: Wesleyan claims composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Michael Bay, and the band MGMT among its alumni. Producing these talented artists requires a stand-out arts program, which Wes has. The Center for the Arts hosts free musical and theatrical events, and has three of its own art galleries. Here's another fun fact: It has a student-run farm that grows more than 80 varieties of vegetables and herbs and hosts two festivals -- a Pumpkin Fest in the fall and a May Day in the spring -- for the community every year.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
FALL 2020 PLAN: The university is starting classes a week early. It will offer most of its courses in hybrid format this fall, but students also have the option to take classes fully remote. Students who choose to go fully remote won't have to pay the Residential Comprehensive Fee.
costs
Est. Full Price 2020-2021
$74,700
% of students who get any grants
43%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$22,200
Average price for low-income students
$5,500
admissions
Acceptance rate
17%
Median SAT/ACT Score
NA/NA
SAT/ACT Required for Fall 2021?
no
Enrollment
2,920
Financial Aid
% of students with need who get grants
99%
% of need met
100%
% of students who get merit* grants
1%
Average merit grant
$38,620
student success
Graduation rate
89%
Average time to a degree
4.1 years
Average student debt
$17,230
Average salary within 5 years
$53,800
% earning more than $28,000
79%
key deadlines
Early decision application
Nov 15
Regular application
Jan 1

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

coronavirus update

FALL 2020 PLAN: The university is starting classes a week early. It will offer most of its courses in hybrid format this fall, but students also have the option to take classes fully remote. Students who choose to go fully remote won't have to pay the Residential Comprehensive Fee.

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

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