On Tuesday, April 8, the Office of Admissions released admission data for the Class of 2029 to The Argus following Regular Decision (RD) admissions decisions this March. This cycle saw the largest application pool ever at 14,970 applicants, for an increase of 142 students.
A total of 2,411 students were offered admissions during this cycle, including Early Decision (ED) admits. This amounted to an acceptance rate of 16.1% for this year’s incoming first-year class, a slight increase from last year’s rate of 15.9% for the Class of 2028. However, this year’s acceptance rate remains lower than the 17.1% recorded for the Class of 2027, indicating a trend toward selectivity. However, it is still higher than the notably competitive 14.4% for the Class of 2026, which marked one of the most selective years in recent admissions history.
The Office of Admissions aims to enroll approximately 810 students into the Class of 2029. This number includes the 512 students from the two rounds of early decision admissions who have already committed. The current enrollment numbers for the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 are 919, 753, 793, and 824, respectively.
Of those admitted, 13% are the first in their family to earn a four-year college degree, 10% identify as international students, and 44% applied for need-based aid. Notably, the University had a 4% drop in first-generation students and a 2% drop in international students compared to the Class of 2028’s class profile.
However, the exact specifics of enrollment and the racial and ethnic profile of the class of 2029 will remain unknown until after the waitlist is closed in May, due to last year’s Supreme Court ruling prohibiting consideration of race as status in admission.
In terms of the students’ academic backgrounds, 84% of the admitted students have completed math through calculus, 80% have taken biology, chemistry, and physics, and 75% have a four-year proficiency in a single foreign language. These figures are all marginally higher than those of the class from the previous year, which recorded 79%, 74%, and 72% in math, science, and foreign language, respectively.
Furthermore, 64% of the admitted students opted to submit their standardized test scores, a 5% increase from the previous year. The median ACT score was 34, the median evidence-based reading and writing SAT score was 750, and the median mathematics SAT score was 770. These numbers are nearly identical to the Class of 2028. Even as test optional policies remain in place, the scores have remained consistent for the last four years. Last cycle, the University’s 75th percentile scores were considerably high—35 on the ACT, 770 on the SAT evidence-based reading and writing, and 790 on SAT math—a trend that is expected to continue for the current admissions cycle.
The Office of Admissions is currently working to hit the 810 student target by hosting regular tours, day visit programs, and resource panels. The main event is the upcoming WesFest, a three-day program for admitted students from Wednesday, April 16 to Friday, April 18. WesFest includes the student involvement fair, opportunities to attend classes, musical performances, and athletic engagements. Additionally, the office is offering a Travel Assistance Program (TAP) during WesFest, specifically designed to support students with the greatest financial need in traveling to campus.
Raiza Goel can be reached at rgoel@wesleyan.edu.
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