Wesleyan actively recruits students who are engaged in their own education, community, and the world around them. Over eighty-five clubs and organization operate on campus. The university schedules speakers, stages plays and other performances on campus thoughout the year.

Student organizations at Wesleyan include ProgressOWU; Pride (serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community), and The Babbling Bishops, an improvisational comedy troupe. OWU's The OWL, is one of the nation's oldest college literary magazines.

Students operate WSLN Radio 98.7 FM  - (aka "The BISHOPeration") from its studio in Slocum Hall. The 15 watt station has a three mile broadcast range and primarily serves the student and local population. The station is under the supervision of the journalism department.

Ohio Wesleyan University has an on-campus house capacity of 1600 students. First-year students are required to live on campus for the first two semesters at Ohio Wesleyan; upperclass students are placed in dormitories through a lottery system. Tompson, Bashford, Stuyvesant and Smith Halls are traditional dormitories on campus. Welch Hall is designated as a "quiet" dorm for honors students. Hayes Hall is the all-female living center.

Other on campus living options include single-sex, coed, small living units and cooperative housing where student participate in the food and housekeeping chores.

Small Living Units (SLUs) are small co-ops for groups of 15 students. The co-ops are organized to promote awareness on various social issues, which usually determine the co-op name: The Peace and Justice House, The Tree House, The Women's House, The Modern Foreign Languages House, The House of Thought, The International House and The House of Hope.

Fraternities, sororities and off-campus living are also available.

Laundry facilities, social rooms, kitchens, and storage areas for personal belongings and bicycles are accessible to all students living on campus.