Wesleyan University

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
This article concerns Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut; a number of other colleges and universities have names that include Wesleyan.

Wesleyan University is a highly selective private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. Wesleyan is the third oldest college in Connecticut, after Yale University (1701) and Trinity College (1823). Founded by Methodist leaders and prominent residents of Middletown, the now secular university was the first institution to be named after John Wesley, the Protestant theologian who was the founder of Methodism. There are about twenty other unrelated colleges and universities subsequently named after Wesley.

Today, Wesleyan is one of the nation's most highly ranked colleges. Wesleyan occupies a position in American higher education between the large research universities and the smaller liberal arts institutions. The University emphasizes undergraduate instruction, but also supports and funds graduate research in many academic disciplines. Wesleyan, along with Amherst and Williams Colleges, constitute the historic "Little Three" colleges. Wesleyan also is a member of the Twelve-College Exchange Program which includes Amherst, Bowdoin, Connecticut, Dartmouth, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Trinity, Vassar, Wellesley, Wheaton, and Williams.

History

Wesleyan was founded as an all-male Methodist college in 1831. Although sponsored by the Methodist conference, under the leadership of the first President Willbur Fisk the college did not have a denominational requirement for admission and in addition to seminarian studies it had an innovative curriculum including electives and modern languages. Fisk also travelled to Europe during his presidency to purchase books and scientific equipment, including one of the first telescopes at a college or university, which is currently conserved at Wesleyan's Van Vleck Observatory. Wesleyan remained a leader in educational progress throughout its history, and erected the first building dedicated to the sciences on any American college campus, Judd Hall. It also has always maintained a much larger library collection than a comparable institution its size.

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Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Northeast
Setting:
Large Town Setting
Type:
Private
Size:
Medium (2,000 to 5,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Cardinals

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
2,730
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 32,976
Students Receiving Aid:
49%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 55
Selectivity:
Most Selective
> More Admissions

Students

General
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 53%
Men 47%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 64%
Other 16%
Asian 8%
Hispanic 6%
African-American 6%
Geography
In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 94%
In-State 6%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
New York 21%
Massachusetts 14%
California 7%
New Jersey 6%
Connecticut 6%
Percent of Students International: 8%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 89%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (New England Small College Ath Conf)
Basketball (New England Small College Ath Conf)
Baseball (New England Small College Ath Conf)
Track (New England Small College Ath Conf)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 32,976    
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 214    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 5,361 13%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 4,236 23%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 21,542 46%  
Student Loans:
$ 2,878 42%  
Any Aid:
  49%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 28% (Most Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 95%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 660, Math: 650
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 750, Math: 740
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 17%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 28, Verbal: 29, Math: 27
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 32, Verbal: 34, Math: 32

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 55.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Recommended
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Recommended
Test Scores: Required

Degree Programs at Wesleyan University

Bachelor's Level Majors

Photos

  • [source]
  • [source]
  • The Samuel Wadsworth Russell House, home to the Philosophy department. The building was designated a national Historic Landmark in 2001 and is considered one of the finest examples of domestic Greek Revival architecture.
    The Samuel Wadsworth Russell House, home to the Philosophy department. The building was designated a national Historic Landmark in 2001 and is considered one of the finest examples of domestic Greek Revival architecture. [source]
  • John Bell Scott Memorial and old Eclectic Hall (1909 postcard)
    John Bell Scott Memorial and old Eclectic Hall (1909 postcard) [source]
  • A Wesleyan defender returning an interception for a touchdown against the Bates College Bobcats on Andrus Field. The Cardinals are led by Head Coach Frank Hauser and finished the 2007 season with an overall record of 4-4.
    A Wesleyan defender returning an interception for a touchdown against the Bates College Bobcats on Andrus Field. The Cardinals are led by Head Coach Frank Hauser and finished the 2007 season with an overall record of 4-4. [source]
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