Wesleyan University admissions officers have made the bold move to release data on the incoming Class of 2030, which recently received decisions determining whether they’ve succeeded in this liberal arts college’s highly competitive admissions process. And why would releasing this data be a bold move? Because, amidst a growing trend to keep admissions statistics close to the vest by withholding the numbers from the public, Wesleyan University has opted for transparency. Well done, Wesleyan! Let’s see what the numbers reveal:

Wesleyan University Admissions Statistics (Class of 2030 – Class of 2014)

Taking a historical view of this year’s admissions cycle puts this year into perspective:

Wesleyan University Class Year	Total Applications Received	Total Applications Accepted	Overall Acceptance Rate
Class of 2030	14,820	2,338	15.78%
Class of 2029	14,970	2,411	16.11%
Class of 2028	14,389	2,373	16.49%
Class of 2027	14,500	2,479	17.10%
Class of 2026	14,521	2,096	14.43%
Class of 2025	13,067	2,540	19.44%
Class of 2024	12,632	2,640	20.90%
Class of 2023	13,264	2,186	16.48%
Class of 2022	12,706	2,218	17.46%
Class of 2021	12,360	2,013	16.29%
Class of 2020	11,928	2,129	17.85%
Class of 2019	9,822	2,180	22.20%
Class of 2018	9,390	2,245	23.91%
Class of 2017	10,690	2,181	20.40%
Class of 2016	10,046	2,102	20.92%
Class of 2015	9,658	2,340	24.23%
Class of 2014	10,657	2,190	20.55%

Wesleyan Class of 2030 Statistics in Historical Perspective

While the arc of this trend isn’t perfectly linear, the numbers laid out above demonstrate an overall tendency towards increasing selectivity at Wesleyan over time, with a record-setting acceptance rate recorded during the Class of 2026 cycle (which set records across the nation due to Pandemic-related shifts in the number of students applying that year). Over the last five years, an average of 14,640 students applied to Wesleyan, of whom an average of 2,339, or 15.98%, were admitted.

The size of the admitted student cohort has stayed relatively steady over the past seventeen years, which highlights that the increase in selectivity is due to increased student interest and higher application numbers (not, for example, a tightening in the number of students admitted each year, which would have artificially decreased the acceptance rate without necessarily signifying increased interest from prospective students). Overall, Wesleyan admissions officers should be proud of the healthy number of students who applied this year (14,820), by no means a given at a time when many elite schools are struggling to attract applicants.

Profile of Wesleyan University Admits to the Class of 2030

Not only have Wesleyan admissions officials bucked the trend of keeping admissions data secret, but they’ve also gone further by releasing a substantial amount of demographic info on the recently admitted cohort. Let’s take a look at a report on the Class of 2030 from The Wesleyan Argus (the campus’ student-run newspaper): 

“Class of 2030. Of those admitted, 558 were accepted through the two rounds of Early Decision, an increase from 512 last year. As a result, a larger proportion of the incoming class has already committed prior to the regular decision cycle, aligning with a broader trend toward earlier enrollment commitments.

Financial aid applicants accounted for 45% of admitted students, a slight uptick from 44% last year. 16% of admitted students identify as first-generation college students, an uptick from 13% previously, while 12% identify as international students, compared to 10% of admitted students for the Class of 2029.

Academic indicators for the Class of 2030 remained largely consistent with the past year, with slight variation across categories. Math preparation rose to 86% of admitted students completing calculus, up from 84% the year before. In the sciences, 79% completed coursework in biology, chemistry, and physics, representing a 1% decrease, while 76% demonstrated four-year proficiency in a single foreign language, a 1% increase from the previous cycle.

67% of admitted students opted to have their standardized test scores considered. Median scores remained unchanged, with a median ACT of 34 and SAT medians of 750 in evidence-based reading and writing and 770 in math.”

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If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to Wesleyan off the waitlist, or if your child has their sights set on Wesleyan University for a future admissions cycle, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form. We’ll then be in touch to delineate our services, including our go-forward service for waitlisted candidates.