Trustees Approve 4.5% Increase in Student Charges; Financial Aid to Increase 11%

Bill HolderMarch 6, 20122min

Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 25 to increase tuition and residential comprehensive fees by 4.5 percent for the 2012-13 academic year.

Continuing its commitment to a strong financial aid program, Wesleyan will increase its budget for aid by 11 percent over this year’s expenditures. Through grants and loans, Wesleyan meets the full demonstrated need of all students eligible for financial aid.

Tuition will be $45,358 for all students in 2012-2013. For freshman and sophomores, the residential comprehensive fee will be $12,574. For juniors and seniors, the fee will be $14,294. The higher residential comprehensive fee for juniors and seniors reflects the higher cost of the options available to them. Juniors and seniors have access to apartments and houses in addition to residence hall rooms. They also have greater flexibility in dining options.

“Wesleyan has continued to reduce annual expenses and operate as efficiently as possible,” says President Michael S. Roth. “As in the past, we are raising student charges by no more than required to sustain the high-quality liberal arts education that distinguishes Wesleyan. At the same time, we recognize that the cost of a Wesleyan education is a concern for many families, and we are looking hard at ways to make it more affordable.”

Applications to Wesleyan rose by 4.6 percent this year to a total 10,500 — a 47 percent increase since 2008 —  underscoring Wesleyan’s strong reputation and its appeal to top students across the country and around the world.