Washington College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Chestertown, Maryland. It enrolls 891 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes72
Value35
Affordability22
Selectivity77
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 56.9%, Washington College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
56.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1140 – 1390
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
27 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Washington College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
26.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Washington College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $27,898 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,898
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$55,326
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,250
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,846
Books & Supplies
$906
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,944
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,969
Total Cost of Attendance
$73,314
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,804
$30,001 – $48,000
$22,722
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,068
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,760
Over $110,000
$33,980
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,75025%percentile
$26,956Medianpercentile
$24,25075%percentile
$27,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,250
↓ $6,706
No Pell $21,349
↓ $5,607
Female students $22,877
↓ $4,079
Male students $19,500
↓ $7,456
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,548, less than completers ($26,956), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
72% of full-time students who enrolled at Washington College graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
72%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Washington College earn a median of $65,518 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$65,518
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,500, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Washington College is home to 891 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
891
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.4%609
Hispanic 10.4%93
Black 9.1%81
Asian 2.8%25
Other 1.5%13
International 1.4%12
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Washington College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantChestertown, Maryland
Housing
Strongly residential1,168 beds for 891 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Washington College offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Washington College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$405M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,788
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
105 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
17
16%
$71,475
Associate Professors
47
45%
$59,622
Assistant Professors
32
30%
$52,046
Instructors
2
2%
$37,477
Lecturers
1
1%
$17,333
No Rank
6
6%
$48,782
Pros & Cons of Washington College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Washington College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Washington College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Washington College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Washington College.
Is Washington College hard to get into?
Admissions at Washington College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 56.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Washington College?
Washington College has an acceptance rate of 56.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Washington College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Washington College scored between 1140 and 1390 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Washington College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Washington College scored between 27 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Washington College cost?
The average net price after aid at Washington College is $27,898 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Washington College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $65,518 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,898 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Washington College known for?
Washington College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Natural Resources Conservation and Research. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Washington College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Washington College are $65,518, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Washington College accredited?
Yes. Washington College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Washington College?
Washington College enrolls 891 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Washington College?
Washington College graduates 72% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Washington College a public or private college?
Washington College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Washington College located?
Washington College is located in Chestertown, Maryland.
What programs does Washington College offer?
Washington College offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Washington College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Washington College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Maryland
Other colleges in Maryland share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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