Wesleyan University

If you are interested in earning your degree at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, your educational experience will truly be unique. Wesleyan offers selective degrees and constructs their programs to achieve the highest potential from students. The school was founded in 1831 as an all-male college affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1878, a small number of women were admitted to the university and today it is a four-year coeducational private school. It is ranked by the U.S. News and World report as #14 of National Liberal Arts Universities. Wesleyan is extremely selective, and has an impressive 87 percent four-year graduation rate. It is a baccalaureate school, which means that it places an emphasis on undergraduate degrees, although it does award Master of Arts in several areas and Ph.D. degrees in biology, chemistry, mathematics and computer science, molecular biology and biochemistry, music, and physics. The student-to-faculty ratio is low, at 8:1, and more than 71 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students. Wesleyan University belongs to the "Little Three," which is primarily an unofficial athletic conference comprised of Wesleyan, Amherst and Williams College.

Wesleyan University Accreditation Details

Wesleyan University is accredited at the institution level by the Higher Education Commission of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. There are, at this time, no separate program or departmental accreditations.

Wesleyan University Application Requirements

You will apply to Wesleyan using the "Common Application," which is a generalized form that schools can customize with their own added requirements. In the case of Wesleyan, first-year applicants must complete a personal essay. The online application also has pages for the submission of your high school transcript, sent by your counselor, your midyear grade report and two teacher evaluation letters. Wesleyan does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission; however, if you believe your scores strengthen your application, you may submit them. Other documents may be submitted, such as an art portfolio or research projects you have done. Graduate students apply to their degree programs, as there are different requisites for each program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

First year students and sophomores at Wesleyan University pay $50,312 in tuition, $300 in general fees and $15,850 in residential comprehensive fees, which is room and board. That, and other fees bring the total to an estimated $64, 502 plus books and materials and personal expenses. Juniors and seniors pay $50,312 in tuition, $15,850 in residential fees and, with other charges, their estimated total is $66,520 plus books and expenses. That is a considerable amount, and you will probably need financial aid to assist you in paying for your education. The first step in getting financial aid is completing the FAFSA form for federal aid. In addition, you will need to complete the CSS/Profile form of the College Scholarship Service, provide signed copies of federal income tax returns for you and your parents and, if you are a returning student, complete the Wesleyan Online Application for Financial Aid. The FAFSA program will calculate your expected contribution to your education expense, subtract that amount from the actual cost of attending Wesleyan, and arrive at your financial need figure. Then, the government will match you with federal grants and loans, subsidized and unsubsidized, as well as work-study programs. Wesleyan requires that you apply grants, loans and outside scholarships to your academic obligation before they apply other aid to meet the remaining need. In the 2014-2015 school year, the school administered more than $54 million in scholarship funding that came from private, federal and school sources. Approximately 46 percent of the student body received financial aid. Wesleyan awards scholarships, but they also have payment plans and can assist students in finding other loans and employment. Graduate students generally receive tuition waivers and stipends for assistantships, fellowships and other employment. Tuition remission for up to eight credits a year is part of the graduate student financial package and the school also pays two-thirds of student health insurance for these students. Most graduate degrees are intended to be completed in two years beyond baccalaureate for a master's degree and four years beyond the bachelor program for doctoral degrees. Tuition is assessed by the program, if students take an inordinate time to complete their programs; however, students with work-study or jobs on campus generally work half-time and take longer to complete a degree.

Online Degrees Available

In addition to its traditional graduate and doctoral-level degree programs, Wesleyan University offers some courses and degree programs online. There is a large assortment of MOOG courses online, and two degree options. You can earn your Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, or the more advanced Master of Philosophy in Liberal Studies. Both degrees stress creative thinking, reasoning and communication skills rather than building proficiency in any area. If you pursue a degree in Liberal Studies, your courses will include classes in visual arts; art history; creative and professional writing; literature; psychology; astronomy; mathematics; film; government; education; biology and other subjects. The program focuses on writing and research. The liberal studies degree makes you desirable to employers because of your unique approach and creative solutions to real-world problems. You can construct your degree around concentrations, if you desire. These are social sciences, sciences, math, humanities and arts. In addition, if there are areas of study not listed in the curriculum that you want to explore, you may study one-on-one with a faculty member. Tuition for these degrees does not follow the guidelines for other degrees. Each three-unit course costs $2,760. The MALS Essay project course is $2,760. The MPhil thesis research course tuition is $5,520 plus applicable fees. There is financial aid available, but these degrees do not offer the option for assistantships and fellowships or tuition waivers that are available with the traditional; graduate degrees.

If you decide to apply to Wesleyan, your degree will come with a prestigious name. The school has a reputation for quality in academics and athletics. If you want something out of the ordinary, Wesleyan University and its unique take on graduate degrees may offer exactly what you need.