Unlock College Compass »
College Compass » Get instant online access to full rankings and complete school data.
Ohio Wesleyan University
61 S. Sandusky Street, Delaware, OH 43015 | (740) 368-2000
Delaware, OH | (740) 368-2000
#92 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
2020 Quick Stats
Overview of Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private institution that was founded in 1842. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,561, and the setting is Suburban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Ohio Wesleyan University's ranking in the 2020 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #92. Its tuition and fees are $47,130.
Ohio Wesleyan University is a small liberal arts school located in the city of Delaware, about 20 minutes north of the state capital, Columbus. Students at Ohio Wesleyan can choose from more than 90 majors in the fields of arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Freshmen have the opportunity to make friends through the Fresh X program, in which they go on an organized retreat with their classmates the summer before their first semester of classes. More than 80 percent of Ohio Wesleyan University students volunteer by building houses with Habitat for Humanity, tutoring children through Buckeye Valley Reads or participating in other programs.
The university, often called OWU, also offers about 100 student organizations, Greek life and intramural sports teams for students to join. More serious athletes can try out for the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops varsity teams, which compete in the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference. The OWU basketball teams play in an arena named after alumnus Branch Rickey, who took one of the first steps in integrating baseball by signing Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball.
Do you work at Ohio Wesleyan University?
Manage your school's public image and connection with students using U.S. News Student Connect.
Claim your profile
Explore Ohio Wesleyan University
General Information
School Type
Private, Coed
Year Founded
1842
Religious Affiliation
United Methodist
Academic Calendar
Semester
Setting
Suburban
2018 Endowment
$239.6 million +
School Website
Website
Ohio Wesleyan University's 2020 Rankings
Ohio Wesleyan University is ranked #92 in National Liberal Arts Colleges. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
- #92in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
- #58in Best Value Schools
- #132in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)
See all Best Colleges Rankings
See all scores and key indicators.
Read more about how we rank schools.
Subscribe to U.S. News College Compass
See how this school scored on the key indicators used in the rankings.
Ohio Wesleyan University Alumni Starting Salaries
Below are the median starting salaries by major for alumni of Ohio Wesleyan University.
Median starting salary of alumni
$49,300
By major
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Psychology
Social Sciences
Data provided by 
Last updated 2019.
Find Your Ideal Major, College or Career
Discover the perfect major for you based on your innate wiring. The Innate Assessment sets you up for success by pairing you with majors, colleges and careers that fit your unique skills and abilities.
Ohio Wesleyan User Reviews and Ratings
See reviews and ratings of this school from students, alumni, staff and others. These reviews are not written by U.S. News and have no impact on any of the Best Colleges rankings. Read an explanation of user ratings.
Ohio Wesleyan Questions and Answers
U.S. News has a community of students, alumni, staff and others who can provide additional insight into Ohio Wesleyan University.
Ohio Wesleyan University Photos
Ohio Wesleyan Admissions
When applying to Ohio Wesleyan University, it's important to note the application deadline is March 1, and the early action deadline and the early decision deadline are Dec. 1 and Nov. 15, respectively. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due Feb. 1. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 69 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
Selectivity
More selective
Fall 2018 acceptance rate
69%
Application deadline
March 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by
Feb. 1
Priority application deadline
Academic Life at Ohio Wesleyan
The student-faculty ratio at Ohio Wesleyan University is 9:1, and the school has 76 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Ohio Wesleyan University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies; and Psychology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 79 percent.
Class Sizes:
Student-faculty ratio
9:1
4-year graduation rate
61%
Total faculty
Student Life at Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,561, with a gender distribution of 46 percent male students and 54 percent female students. At this school, 88 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing and 12 percent of students live off campus. In sports, Ohio Wesleyan University is part of the NCAA III.
Student Gender Distribution:
Total enrollment
1,561
Collegiate athletic association
NCAA III
Full-time degree-seeking students
Ohio Wesleyan University Tuition & Financial Aid
At Ohio Wesleyan University, 73 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $33,932.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs, or use the U.S. News 529 Finder to choose the best tax-advantaged college investment account for you.
Financial Aid Statistics:
Applied for need-based aid
Need was fully met
Received need-based financial aid
Received need-based self-help aid
Average percent of need met
Tuition and fees
$47,130
(2019-20)
Room and board
$12,800
(2019-20)
Minimum credits per term a student can take for full-time tuition price
Campus Safety
Campus safety data were reported by the institution to the U.S. Department of Education and have not been independently verified. The numbers for criminal offenses reflect reports of alleged offenses to campus security and/or law enforcement authorities, not necessarily prosecutions or convictions. Experts advise prospective students and their families to do their own research to evaluate the safety of a campus as well as the surrounding area.
Campus Services at Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University offers a number of student services, including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, health service. Ohio Wesleyan University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc.). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Students who have cars on campus
N/A
Health insurance offered
No
Nearest airports (miles)
U.S. News College Compass
See expanded profiles for more than 1,900 schools. Unlock entering class stats including SAT scores and GPAs. Save schools, compare and take notes.
Undergraduate data are based on the 2018 school year.
* Median starting salary for alumni with three years of postgraduation work experience and whose highest degree is a bachelor's
My Fit Custom College Ranking
Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now
Compare Nearby Schools
Colleges Advice