Is Skidmore or Wesleyan harder to get into?

Wesleyan is harder to get into than Skidmore. Wesleyan's 16.5% acceptance rate is lower than Skidmore's 21.1%.

Which is cheaper, Skidmore or Wesleyan?

Wesleyan costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Wesleyan's average net price is $30,177 vs $32,297 at Skidmore.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Skidmore or Wesleyan?

Wesleyan graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $69,363 at Skidmore and $73,897 at Wesleyan.

Skidmore vs. Wesleyan: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Skidmore	Wesleyan
Acceptance rate	21.1%	16.5%
SAT mid-50%	1340–1480	1415–1540
ACT mid-50%	31–33	33–35
Cost of attendance	$85,270	$89,020
Avg net price (after aid)	$32,297	$30,177
Undergrad enrollment	2,694	3,067
6-yr graduation rate	82.6%	92.6%
Median earnings (10yr)	$69,363	$73,897
Setting	Saratoga Springs, NY	Middletown, Connecticut

The Real Differences

Wesleyan is meaningfully harder to get into. A 4.6-percentage-point gap between 21.1% (Skidmore) and 16.5% (Wesleyan) reflects real selectivity differences. Skidmore is the more realistic target for a balanced college list.

Wesleyan draws stronger test scores. Mid-50% SAT range tops out at 1540 vs 1480 at the other school. Differences in test profile usually reflect a school's STEM-vs-humanities mix and the self-selection of applicants, not raw academic quality.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Skidmore is in Saratoga Springs, NY; 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 82.6% 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. Skidmore is 59.9% women, 7.4% international, and 5.9% Asian-American. Wesleyan is 52.2% women, 9.9% international, and 9.0% Asian-American.

Demographic	Skidmore	Wesleyan
Women	59.9%	52.2%
International	7.4%	9.9%
White	64.3%	53.6%
Asian	5.9%	9.0%
Hispanic	10.5%	10.8%
Black	4.3%	6.0%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Skidmore vs. Wesleyan?

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The Verdict

Pick Skidmore if

Your odds are realistic at Skidmore (slightly easier admit)
the Saratoga Springs campus

Pick Wesleyan if

Net price matters: Wesleyan costs $2,120 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($73,897 vs $69,363)
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

Skidmore College

21.1% accept · Saratoga Springs, NY

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.

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Skidmore College vs. Wesleyan University