Wesleyan University vs. Hamilton College

Should I go to Wesleyan University or Hamilton College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wesleyan University or Hamilton College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Wesleyan University vs. Hamilton College comparison
Wesleyan University Hamilton College College 3 College 4
Wesleyan University Hamilton College
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Overview

Wesleyan University Hamilton College
Location Middletown, CT Clinton, NY
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,271 2,048
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #30 #25
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wesleyan.edu hamilton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wesleyan University Hamilton College
Tuition (In State) $66,716 $65,090
Tuition (Out of State) $66,716 $65,090
Room & Board $19,034 $16,690
Avg Net Price $20,463 $26,021
Avg Grant Aid $64,709 $54,359
% Receiving Grant Aid 38% 51%

Admission

Wesleyan University Hamilton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,500 9,643
Admitted 2,479 1,135
Acceptance Rate 17.1% 11.8%
Enrolled % 31.5% 40.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.87
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 33/35 32/35
SAT Range 1450/1540 1410/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Jan 5, 2026

Academics

Wesleyan University Hamilton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Ethnic Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Foreign Languages (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Mathematics (6%)

Outcomes

Wesleyan University Hamilton College
Graduation Rate 92% 89%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $79,000
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $15,760
Median Loan Payment $180 $162

Diversity

Wesleyan University Hamilton College
% Men 2% 0%
% Women 4% 0%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 53% 63%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 9% 6%
% Unknown Race 5% 8%

Students

Wesleyan University Hamilton College
% In-State 10% 27%
% Out-of-State 75% 63%

Campus

Wesleyan University Hamilton College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wesleyan University is larger than than Hamilton College based on total student enrollment (3,271 students vs. 2,048 students)

Wesleyan University vs. Hamilton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or Hamilton College?

  • Wesleyan University is 2.5% more expensive to attend than Hamilton College for in-state tuition ($66,716.00 vs. $65,090.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.5% higher at Wesleyan University than Hamilton College ($66,716.00 vs. $65,090.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan University than Hamilton College ($20,463 vs. $26,021)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hamilton College are 14% lower than costs at Wesleyan University ($16,690 vs. $19,034)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hamilton College than Wesleyan University (51% vs. 38%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 19% larger than aid received Hamilton College ($64,709 vs. $54,359)

Wesleyan University vs. Hamilton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wesleyan University or Hamilton College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Hamilton College or Wesleyan University .

  • Wesleyan University has a higher acceptance rate (17.1%) than Hamilton College (11.8%)

Wesleyan University vs. Hamilton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wesleyan University or Hamilton College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Hamilton College and Wesleyan University.

  • The graduation rate at Wesleyan University is higher than Hamilton College (92% vs. 89%)
  • Graduates from Hamilton College earn on average $21,000 more per year than Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($79,000 vs. $58,000)
  • Hamilton College students graduate with a $1,740 lower median federal student loan debt than Wesleyan University graduates. ($15,760 vs. $17,500)
  • Hamilton College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Wesleyan University graduates. ($162 vs. $180)
  • More Hamilton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wesleyan University students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/