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Summary
Wheaton College is a private institution that was founded in 1834. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,622, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 473 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Wheaton College's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 60. Its tuition and fees are $43,712 (2012-13).
Located between Boston and Providence, R.I., Wheaton College can be found in the town of Norton, Mass. Originally founded in 1834 as a female seminary, it became a women’s college in 1912 and finally began admitting men in 1988. Students admitted to the college have the opportunity to select from about 40 majors and more than 70 student-run clubs and organizations. Academically, students are required to complete “connections,” a series of linked courses that approaches a subject matter from different perspectives and disciplines, giving the student a broad, wide-ranging view of knowledge. As a residential college, Wheaton requires most students to live on campus, although off-campus housing can be arranged if needed. Students can choose to live in traditional residence houses or themed houses, which place students with like interests in the same living area. Known as the Lyons, Wheaton College is a member of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division III, and the college fields 21 intercollegiate teams for men and women.
Students looking to extend their educational experience have the opportunity to cross-register at Brown University or at nine other local colleges in the Southeastern Association for Cooperation in Higher Education in Massachusetts for courses not covered in the Wheaton curriculum. The honor code is an important feature of Wheaton College, and all students are required to practice it during their college career. As part of the code, most tests and exams are not proctored and students are often permitted to complete the exam away from the testing location. Freshmen admitted to the college are required to complete the First Year Seminar program, which gives students the opportunity to learn in small classes through reading and regular discussion. Notable alumni of the college include National Medal of Science winner Dr. Mary Ellen Avery, former New Jersey Governor and former EPA Director Christie Todd Whitman, and Oscar-nominated actress Catherine Keener.
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The college offers a challenging program--simply referred to as the Wheaton Curriculum--that offers students the flexibility to pursue their interests fully while also exploring the breadth and depth of the liberal arts. The program enables students to make connections among disciplines. Through a series of linked courses Wheaton students can approach the same topic from two or more academic perspectives. What's the benefit of this approach? Through connected courses you will discover doorways (which others don't yet know exist) to deeper understanding of the subjects most important to you. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1834 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2011 Endowment | $164,947,509 |
Applying
When applying to Wheaton College, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at Wheaton College is $55. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 60.2 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 60.2% |
| Application deadline | January 15 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Wheaton College is 10:1, and the school has 66.6 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Wheaton College include: Psychology, General; Economics, General; English Language and Literature, General; Sociology; and Biology/Biological Sciences, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 86.0 percent.
Student Life
Wheaton College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,622, with a gender distribution of 36.4 percent male students and 63.6 percent female students. At this school, 95.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 5.0 percent of students live off campus. Wheaton College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Wheaton College.
| Total enrollment | 1,622 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Wheaton College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Wheaton College 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, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Wheaton College, 35 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Wheaton College.
| Students who have cars on campus | 35% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Wheaton College, 62.1 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $27,876.
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.
| Tuition and fees | $43,712 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $11,160 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
