Head-to-head comparison
Reed College vs. Wesleyan University
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Reed or Wesleyan harder to get into?
Wesleyan is harder to get into than Reed. Wesleyan's 16.5% acceptance rate is lower than Reed's 24.6%.
Which is cheaper, Reed or Wesleyan?
Wesleyan costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Wesleyan's average net price is $30,177 vs $33,013 at Reed.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
Wesleyan graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $62,927 at Reed and $73,897 at Wesleyan.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Reed | Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 24.6% | 16.5% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1290–1520 | 1415–1540 |
| ACT mid-50% | 30–34 | 33–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $86,376 | $89,020 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $33,013 | $30,177 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,320 | 3,067 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 71.5% | 92.6% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $62,927 | $73,897 |
| Setting | Portland, OR | Middletown, Connecticut |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
Wesleyan is meaningfully harder to get into. A 8.1-percentage-point gap between 24.6% (Reed) and 16.5% (Wesleyan) reflects real selectivity differences. Reed is the more realistic target for a balanced college list.
Wesleyan graduates earn $10,970 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Reed grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.
Wesleyan is substantially larger with 3,067 undergrads vs 1,320 at Reed. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.
Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Reed is in Portland, OR; Wesleyan is in Middletown, Connecticut. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.
Wesleyan's graduation rate is meaningfully higher (92.6% vs 71.5% 6-year completion). Graduation gaps at this level usually reflect support-system differences, financial aid adequacy, or degree-flexibility — worth verifying with each school's first-year retention and major-change policies.
Student Body Composition
The two schools have different student body compositions. Reed is 58.6% women, 8.4% international, and 8.1% Asian-American. Wesleyan is 52.2% women, 9.9% international, and 9.0% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Reed | Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 58.6% | 52.2% |
| International | 8.4% | 9.9% |
| White | 58.3% | 53.6% |
| Asian | 8.1% | 9.0% |
| Hispanic | 12.3% | 10.8% |
| Black | 1.7% | 6.0% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Reed vs. Wesleyan?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Reed if
- Your odds are realistic at Reed (slightly easier admit)
- the senior thesis and Hum 110
Pick Wesleyan if
- Net price matters: Wesleyan costs $2,836 less per year on average
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($73,897 vs $62,927)
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- the College of Social Studies
Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.
Full School Pages
For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:
Full profile
Reed College
24.6% accept · Portland, OR
Full profile
Wesleyan University
16.5% accept · Middletown, Connecticut
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
- Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.