Whitman College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Walla Walla, Washington. It enrolls 1,531 students (a mid-sized 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.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
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
Outcomes86
Value21
Affordability10
Selectivity90
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 38.2%, Whitman College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
38.2%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1310 – 1480
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
29 – 33
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 Whitman College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Whitman 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 $33,313 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$33,313
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
54%
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
$64,050
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,080
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,080
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$800
Total Cost of Attendance
$78,092
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$13,567
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,596
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,915
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,237
Over $110,000
$47,679
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.
$4,50010%percentile
$9,97125%percentile
$18,437Medianpercentile
$23,43875%percentile
$27,50090%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 $12,000
↓ $6,437
No Pell $12,000
↓ $6,437
Female students $13,000
↓ $5,437
Male students $11,881
↓ $6,556
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($18,437), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
89% of full-time students who enrolled at Whitman College graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
89%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Whitman College earn a median of $67,589 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$67,589
Earning > $25K
85%
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
$57,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
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.
Stable ↑
1.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Whitman College is home to 1,531 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,531
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
12%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.0%858
International 14.4%220
Hispanic 13.0%199
Other 6.9%106
Asian 5.5%84
Black 2.9%45
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Whitman College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityWalla Walla, Washington
Housing
Mostly residential886 beds on campus
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Whitman College offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
14 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 Whitman College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$896M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,062
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
186 instructional faculty across 5 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
44
24%
$121,719
Associate Professors
61
33%
$97,531
Assistant Professors
27
15%
$81,731
Instructors
4
2%
$71,327
Lecturers
50
27%
$75,459
Pros & Cons of Whitman College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Whitman College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Whitman College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Whitman College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Whitman College.
Is Whitman College hard to get into?
Whitman College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 38.2%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Whitman College?
Whitman College has an acceptance rate of 38.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Whitman College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Whitman College scored between 1310 and 1480 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 Whitman College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Whitman College scored between 29 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Whitman College cost?
The average net price after aid at Whitman College is $33,313 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Whitman College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $67,589 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $33,313 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Whitman College known for?
Whitman College is best known for its programs in Experimental Psychology, Economics, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Whitman College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Whitman College are $67,589, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Whitman College accredited?
Yes. Whitman College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Whitman College?
Whitman College enrolls 1,531 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Whitman College?
Whitman College graduates 89% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Whitman College a public or private college?
Whitman College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Whitman College located?
Whitman College is located in Walla Walla, Washington.
What programs does Whitman College offer?
Whitman College offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Experimental Psychology, Economics, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Whitman College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Whitman College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Washington
Other colleges in Washington 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.
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