Acceptance Rate
38%
Avg. SAT
1480
75th percentile
“Tucked in Washington's wine-soaked Walla Walla Valley, Whitman College delivers intimate liberal arts rigor amid endless hikes and vineyard sunsets.”
Walla Walla, WA
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
You'll step into the legacy of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, Presbyterian missionaries who founded a school here in 1836, only to perish in the infamous Whitman Massacre four years later; their namesake college, established in 1859, endures as Washington's oldest, born from frontier zeal now mellowed into a thoughtful haven for curious souls who crave deep discussions over craft brews. Students who thrive here are collaborative adventurers—think the hiker debating philosophy mid-trail or the aspiring scientist sampling local vintages for research inspiration—drawn to a personality that's unpretentious yet fiercely intellectual, like a cozy flannel-clad professor inviting you for coffee. Walla Walla's small-city charm (population 35,000) surrounds you with over 200 wineries, bike paths through orchards, and a revitalized downtown pulsing with farm-to-table spots, but trade that for isolation: you're hours from Seattle or Portland, so if urban buzz fuels you, this rural idyll might feel like charming exile.
Photo Gallery
+30
+22
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Whitman's discussion-driven classrooms, where your 10:1 student-faculty ratio means professors remember your name and quirks, you'll dissect neuroscience in seminars that spill into lab benches overlooking rolling hills, or pioneer environmental policy projects tracking the Columbia River's salmon runs. The sciences shine brightest—biology and geology draw on the nearby Blue Mountains for hands-on fieldwork—while politics and writing programs sharpen your voice through thesis marathons that culminate in public defenses. Undergrads snag research gigs early, co-authoring papers with faculty who prioritize teaching over grants, fostering a culture where curiosity trumps cutthroat competition; yet the small size limits niche majors like engineering, nudging ambitious techies toward dual degrees or transfers.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,561 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
58%
Black / African American
3%
Hispanic / Latino
12%
Asian
6%
Other / Multi-racial
22%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Walla Walla, WA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Picture your week weaving hikes with the legendary Outdoor Program (rent gear for free and summit peaks before lunch), late-night house parties in quirky theme residences like the Cheese Haus, and Whitstock—a student-run music fest rivaling bigger schools' ragers. Campus life hums with a progressive, low-key vibe: 100+ clubs from Ultimate Frisbee to Queer Alliance keep introverts and extroverts connected, while all freshmen bond in dorms before choosing from 20+ themed houses that feel like extended families. Traditions like the annual Pioneer Dinner recount the school's wild founding tales amid feasts of Walla Walla sweet onions, but the social scene stays mellow—no Greek life dominates—and rainy winters plus the town's quiet nights challenge partiers, turning many weekends into cozy movie marathons or winery crawls.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Northwest Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$14,774
$30K – $48K
$18,861
$48K – $75K
$30,412
$75K – $110K
$31,827
$110K+
$41,899
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
87%
4 Years Graduation Rate
79%
6 Years Graduation Rate
89%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$67,589
87% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Whitman College and return in the fall. 79% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 89% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
79%
4-5 years
10%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
10%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$58,200
Acceptance
38%
Undergrads
1,561
4-Year Grad Rate
79%
Endowment
$542M
Walla Walla, WA 99362