Reed College vs Wesleyan University
Reed College and Wesleyan University, two esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Reed, located in Portland, Oregon, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 36%, while Wesleyan, situated in Middletown, Connecticut, has a slightly higher acceptance rate of 40%. Both institutions prioritize undergraduate education, with Reed's student body comprising 1,400 undergraduates and Wesleyan's enrolling approximately 2,900. While Reed's student body is predominantly White (68%) and Asian (18%), Wesleyan's student population is more diverse, with 53% White, 15% Asian, 10% Hispanic, and 9% Black students. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your college decision.
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![]() Reed College |
![]() Wesleyan University |
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Overview |
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Location | Portland, Oregon | Middletown, Connecticut |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 88.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 43.8% | 19.4% |
Application fees | $75 | $55 |
SAT range | N/A | 1300 - 1510 |
ACT range | N/A | 31 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 27.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 7,010 | 13,067 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,071 | 2,540 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 502 | 910 |
Yield rate | 16.3% | 35.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $77,020 | $82,245 |
Average net price | $33,056 | $20,535 |
Tuition | $62,420 | $61,449 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,130
Meal plan:
$7,510
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$17,531 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
58.0%
Average amount $43,945 |
40.0%
Average amount $58,925 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
46.0%
Average amount $4,374 |
18.0%
Average amount $3,834 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $19,335 |
2.0%
Average amount $27,881 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,548
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
3,385
Men 43.8% Women 56.2% |
Graduate students |
18
Men 61.1% Women 38.9% |
196
Men 42.3% Women 57.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 88.7% | 90.3% |
International students | 8.8% | 11.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,113 | 3,063 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Oregon Washington New York Colorado | New York California Connecticut New Jersey Pennsylvania |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 72.7% | 91.0% |
Dropout rate | 8.2% | 3.6% |
Transferred out | 17.8% | 5.3% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Doctoral Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
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