Wheaton College

Wheaton College (MA) placed at 81 in the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, showing moderate fluctuation after reaching rank 74 in 2025. Overall, admission to the college is fairly accessible compared to institutional peers. The college posted an acceptance rate of 67.7%, which was higher than 55% of peer schools in its comparison group of similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges. Both men and women were accepted at majority rates. However, the college faces challenges in converting admitted applicants into matriculants. Its yield rate stood at 12.9%, demonstrating that only a small share of admitted candidates ultimately chose to enroll. For prospective students evaluating their chances, these figures mean that gaining admission is comparatively achievable, but Wheaton must compete actively against alternative institutions to draw its incoming class.

Wheaton College (MA) operates under an admission policy where standardized test scores are optional, considered if submitted. A large majority of entering undergraduates gain admission without submitting testing, as just 18% of enrolled students provided SAT results in 2025, accompanied by a negligible share submitting ACT scores. For candidates who chose to include standardized testing in 2025, the scores reflected a solid academic standing. The school's median SAT score was 1295, which is higher than 60% of peer schools in a comparison group of similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges. For prospective students planning their college applications, these numbers demonstrate that applicants submitting standardized test credentials generally align closely with or exceed the typical levels seen across peer liberal arts institutions, offering a helpful frame of reference for evaluating academic readiness.

Academic awards at Wheaton College (MA) show moderate concentration across traditional disciplines. In 2025, the college conferred 384 bachelor degrees, with the top three majors accounting for 35.9% of all graduates. The single largest program was Business Administration and Management, General, which graduated 61 students, followed by Biology and Psychology. The largest majors are not the highest ranked; the only nationally evaluated program in the 2027 U.S. News rankings was psychology at rank 189. International students represent small shares of most majors, though they made up a modest fraction of design and business graduates. Earnings data from 2023 show strong returns for quantitative and managerial fields: Economics graduates led all tracked programs with median first-year earnings of $60,536, followed by business administration. For prospective applicants, Wheaton provides established degree paths in business and life sciences with solid starting earnings in analytical areas.

In 2025, Wheaton College (MA) enrolled an incoming first-year class where White students formed the majority, alongside smaller representations of other backgrounds. Asian students comprised 20 incoming undergraduates, representing 3.9% of the freshman class, while international students totaled 16 students, or 3.1% of the cohort. Continuing undergraduate classes reflected very similar demographic distributions, with Asian and international undergraduates each making up modest single-digit shares of their classes. The student body also leans significantly female across both first-year and continuing cohorts, with women accounting for nearly two-thirds of all students. For families evaluating the campus community, Wheaton presents a predominantly female and domestic student population where Asian and international students constitute small but consistent student communities.

The student body at Wheaton College (MA) consists almost entirely of traditional college-aged undergraduates. In 2025, out of 1,785 undergraduates, 49.2% were 18 to 19 years old, while 44% were 20 to 21 years old. Students aged 22 and older represent only a small fraction of campus. Furthermore, the college enrolls 0 graduate students. This heavy concentration of young adults progressing directly from high school means that campus life, residential activities, and student support services are structured around the needs and development of traditional full-time undergraduate learners.

International representation at Wheaton College (MA) has trended downward over the past decade. In 2025, the college enrolled 79 international undergraduate students, accounting for 4.4% of the undergraduate student body. This international share was higher than 43% of peer schools in a comparison group of similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges. Because Wheaton does not offer graduate degree programs, there are no international graduate students on campus. Among degree recipients in 2025, international students made up 3.9% of bachelor graduates. These international graduates were concentrated in a few specific academic areas, showing the highest presence in Design and Visual Communications, General, followed by Business Administration and Management, General, and Biology/Biological Sciences, General, while humanities disciplines like history and psychology had no international graduates. For prospective international applicants, the college offers a small global community within an entirely undergraduate-focused campus.

Families researching Wheaton College (MA) can also consider several higher education institutions situated within a short drive. Located 8.3 kilometers away in Easton, Stonehill College is a fellow liberal arts college ranked 85 in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. Across the state line in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University is a major national university situated 14.9 kilometers from campus, ranked 16 nationally. To the north, Wellesley College is a liberal arts institution located 23.3 kilometers away and ranked 10 in the national liberal arts category. In addition, Boston College, situated 25.5 kilometers away in Chestnut Hill, is ranked 31 among national universities. Exploring these neighboring campuses provides applicants with varied institutional types ranging from small liberal arts colleges to large research universities in the surrounding region.

Campus safety data for Wheaton College (MA) indicate a notable reduction in overall incident rates over time. In 2025, the college registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 11.8, declining from 38.7 in 2016. The majority of recorded campus infractions involve campus policy disciplinary actions rather than violent offenses. From 2023 to 2025, the college recorded 136 disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations, which represented the largest incident category by a wide margin. Other reported offenses over this three-year span occurred in much lower frequencies, including small numbers of stalking, sexual harassment, dating violence, rape, and drug referrals. For families and students assessing campus security, these figures reflect an environment where substance-related disciplinary violations are the predominant concern, while interpersonal safety incidents remain relatively limited.