Wesleyan University vs. Notre Dame

Deciding between Wesleyan University and University of Notre Dame? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Wesleyan University
University of Notre Dame

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wesleyan University Middletown, CT
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Setting
  • Wesleyan University Small City
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Wesleyan University 4,011
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Type
  • Wesleyan University Private 4 Year
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wesleyan University #36
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wesleyan University -
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Wesleyan University Non-profit
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wesleyan University
  • Notre Dame
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wesleyan University $70,342
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wesleyan University $70,342
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Room & Board
  • Wesleyan University $19,872
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Average Net Price
  • Wesleyan University $23,025
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wesleyan University $65,995
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wesleyan University 42%
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wesleyan University 14,389
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Admitted
  • Wesleyan University 2,373
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wesleyan University 16.5%
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Wesleyan University 34.8%
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wesleyan University 1480
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wesleyan University 34
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wesleyan University -
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wesleyan University -
  • Notre Dame A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wesleyan University Elite
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wesleyan University Very High
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Wesleyan University 33/35
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Wesleyan University 1415/1540
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wesleyan University Test optional
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wesleyan University Jan 1, 2027
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wesleyan University 8:1
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wesleyan University
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • Ethnic Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wesleyan University 92%
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wesleyan University $58,000
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wesleyan University 89%
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wesleyan University $17,500
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wesleyan University $180
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wesleyan University 47%
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • % Women
  • Wesleyan University 53%
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wesleyan University High
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • HBCU
  • Wesleyan University No
  • Notre Dame No
  • % White
  • Wesleyan University 53%
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • % Asian
  • Wesleyan University 8%
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • % Black
  • Wesleyan University 7%
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wesleyan University 11%
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • % Native American
  • Wesleyan University 0%
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wesleyan University 0%
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wesleyan University 6%
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • % International
  • Wesleyan University 9%
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wesleyan University 5%
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wesleyan University 8%
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wesleyan University 78%
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Wesleyan University Yes
  • Notre Dame Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Wesleyan University Yes
  • Notre Dame No
  • Meal Plan
  • Wesleyan University Yes
  • Notre Dame Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Wesleyan University No
  • Notre Dame No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Wesleyan University No
  • Notre Dame No

Comparable Facts

Compare Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT with University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Notre Dame is larger than Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (13,042 students vs. 4,011 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wesleyan University is located in Middletown, CT (Small City setting); University of Notre Dame is in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wesleyan University 8:1; University of Notre Dame 8:1.

Wesleyan University vs. Notre Dame Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or Notre Dame ? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan University than Notre Dame ($23,025 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Notre Dame are 9.9% lower than at Wesleyan University ($17,900 vs. $19,872).
  • Wesleyan University is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Notre Dame (about $5,317 more per year; $70,342.00 vs. $65,025.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Wesleyan University than at University of Notre Dame (about $5,317 more per year; $70,342.00 vs. $65,025.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Notre Dame than at Wesleyan University (61% vs. 42%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 22.3% larger than aid received by University of Notre Dame students ($65,995 vs. $53,971).

Wesleyan University vs. Notre Dame Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wesleyan University or Notre Dame ? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Notre Dame and Wesleyan University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 30 points higher than at Wesleyan University (1480).
  • Incoming Wesleyan University students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Notre Dame (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wesleyan University 1415/1540; University of Notre Dame 1455/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wesleyan University 33/35; University of Notre Dame 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wesleyan University - Test optional; Notre Dame - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wesleyan University Jan 1, 2027; Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027.
  • Wesleyan University has a higher acceptance rate (16.5%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34.8% at Wesleyan University vs. 61.7% at Notre Dame .

Wesleyan University vs. Notre Dame Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wesleyan University and Notre Dame ? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Wesleyan University's (92%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $31,800 more per year than Wesleyan University graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wesleyan University graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Notre Dame graduates ($17,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Wesleyan University graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Notre Dame graduates ($180 vs. $222).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wesleyan University students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.