Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand.
Our student body of approximately 3,000 undergraduate and 200 graduate students is housed on a beautiful 316-acre historic New England campus that offers the comfort of an intimate and collaborative learning environment supported by renowned faculty, cutting-edge facilities, and unique research opportunities.
With our distinctive teacher-scholar culture, creative programming, and commitment to interdisciplinary learning, Wesleyan challenges students to explore new ideas and change the world. Our graduates lead and innovate in a wide variety of industries, including government, business, entertainment, and science.
Intellectual agility and strategic thinking are not just traits we cultivate in our students; they are mandates for our leadership. Meet the people guiding Wesleyan forward and enhancing our standing as one of the country's premier liberal arts institutions.
Wesleyan is one of the most highly selective institutions in the United States, and admission is competitive, with nearly 13,000 applicants. Applicants are expected to have a vital secondary school preparation in English, social science, science, mathematics, and a foreign language. Candidates studying at schools outside the US who have taken national examinations for university admission (A levels, French Baccalaureate, ISC, International Baccalaureate, etc.) are expected to have achieved superior results.
All students applying for undergraduate admission who have not yet attended a university for one full year will be considered applicants to the first-year class. Those who have completed a year or more at a university will be considered transfer applicants.
The Office of Financial Aid at Wesleyan University is committed to enabling the best-qualified students to attend, regardless of the family's financial circumstances. Accordingly, Wesleyan's financial aid program awards assistance solely based on financial need.
Wesleyan is dedicated to providing a rigorous liberal arts education that values putting ideals into practice. At Wesleyan, you will discover what you love to do and learn how to apply your knowledge in meaningful ways. With 45 majors, 17 minors, 12 certificates, a diverse collection of distinctive programs, and an open curriculum, you'll have the freedom to explore your options and follow your passion.
Wesleyan's unique selection of distinctive programs inspires students to engage in critical thought and harness their creative energy through liberal learning. Building a solid foundation is the first step to success in life and school. Wesleyan's first-year programs and support systems are designed to ease your transition to university life and give you a firm footing on which to build your future.
Wesleyan's First-Year Matters "common experience" program is designed to help you establish on-campus community connections, engage in shared learning experiences, open your eyes and your mind to new opinions and ideas, and acquire the knowledge and skills you will need to succeed in Wesleyan's rigorous liberal arts environment. The program includes an anthology of multidisciplinary readings available to students during the summer before they start their first year and faculty lectures/presentations, residence hall discussions, and the staging of a significant participatory arts event during new student orientation (NSO).
Your first year at Wesleyan should be a time of academic exploration: expanding intellectual boundaries and taking some creative risks while maintaining and developing previously acquired skills. Creating an academic program for your first year is both a daunting and exciting endeavor. Want to explore your options? WesMaps allows you to search for disciplinary area courses, subject matter, seats available for first-year students, general education (GenEd) designation, and other categories.
Wesleyan is a diverse, energetic community of learners who think critically and creatively about themselves, their world, and their place in it. From residential life and multicultural eats to a vibrant and eclectic mix of student groups and Cardinal sports, welcome to life at Wesleyan!
Wesleyan University is dedicated to providing a bold, rigorous education in the liberal arts that values putting ideals into practice. With 45 majors, 17 minors, and 12 certificate programs to choose from, Wesleyan students get the flexibility to explore their many academic interests and passions, take chances, question the status quo, and flourish in an academic culture that prizes collaboration over competition.
Just as our students are different in their ways — with unique backgrounds, personalities, and ambitions — so are their academic journeys. Wesleyan encourages students to take advantage of various resources and academic options to forge their distinct path to graduation and beyond. Wesleyan's unique selection of distinctive programs, including various interdisciplinary colleges and academic program centers, inspires students to engage in critical thought across multiple perspectives and harness their creative energy to effect real-world change.
Some of the most profound learning and growth opportunities are the ones that happen outside the classroom—from move-in day with new roommates, to late-night study sessions and dinner breaks, to joining (or starting) a new organization on campus.
With more than 275 active student-run groups, 300+ annual arts events, and countless opportunities to listen to, learn from, and interact with renowned experts and thought-leaders every day of the week, the value of a Wesleyan education goes beyond the confines of our classes and labs.