Wesleyan is the adjective form of Wesley, referring either to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism (a denomination within Protestant Christianity) or to another of the Methodist branches within that denomination.

  • A Wesleyan is any person who adopts the principles of Wesleyan theology or Wesleyanism
  • In a closely related usage, Wesleyan may refer to the theological emphasis on sanctification, characteristic of the holiness movement of which Wesley was part.
  • There are also a number of educational institutions worldwide named "Wesley College."
  • Wesleyan as The Wesleyan Church split from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1843.
  • Wesleyan may refer to one of many universities and liberal arts colleges named after John Wesley below, most of which are affiliated with a branch of Methodism, but there are several that are no longer affiliated and whose connection is wholly historic.


Colleges & Universities named 'Wesleyan'.

Institution Founded Location Affiliation & notes
Wesleyan College 1836 Macon, Georgia Independent. Women's college.
Wesleyan University 1831 Middletown, Connecticut Independent. Liberal arts college.
Wesleyan University 1946 Cabanatuan City, Philippines Independent. Liberal arts college.


Colleges & Universities with 'Wesleyan' in their name.

Institution Founded Location Affiliation & notes
Dakota Wesleyan University 1885 Mitchell, South Dakota United Methodist Church.
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary 1831 - 1942 Lima, New York Not strictly college level.
Illinois Wesleyan University 1850 Bloomington, Illinois Independent. Liberal arts college.
Indiana Wesleyan University 1920 Marion, Indiana The Wesleyan Church.
Iowa Wesleyan College 1843 Mt. Pleasant, Iowa United Methodist Church.
Kansas Wesleyan University 1886 Salina,Kansas United Methodist Church
Kentucky Wesleyan College 1850 Owensboro, Kentucky United Methodist Church.
Nagasaki Wesleyan University 1881 Isahaya, Nagasaki, Japan unknown
Nebraska Wesleyan University 1887 Lincoln, Nebraska United Methodist Church
North Carolina Wesleyan College 1956 Rocky Mount, North Carolina United Methodist Church.
Ohio Wesleyan University 1842 Delaware, Ohio Independent. Liberal arts college.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University 1909 Bartlesville, Oklahoma The Wesleyan Church.
Roberts Wesleyan College 1945 North Chili, New York Free Methodists.
Southern Wesleyan University 1906 Central, South Carolina The Wesleyan Church.
Tennessee Wesleyan College 1857 Athens, Tennessee United Methodist Church.
Texas Wesleyan University 1890 Fort Worth, Texas United Methodist Church.
Virginia Wesleyan College 1966 Norfolk, Virginia United Methodist Church.
West Virginia Wesleyan College 1900 Buckhannon, West Virginia Free Methodists.

Learned Societies with 'Wesleyan' in their name.

Society Founded Journal Notes
Wesleyan Theological Society 1966 Wesleyan Theological Journal
Wesleyan Philosophical Society 2001 Wesleyan Philosophical Online Journal Wesleyan Philosophical Society