Washington & Jefferson College
#5 Best Business Colleges in PennsylvaniaBottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.3 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Business Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $19.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,833,279.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Graduates earn 66% more than the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $19.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Washington & Jefferson College Matters
Washington & Jefferson College is a private liberal arts college in Washington, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 9% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,295
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences
Why students choose Washington & Jefferson College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 81% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,002 a year after grants and scholarships — 46% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $67,918 ten years after enrolling — 66% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 55% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.62 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 1,295 students and an acceptance rate of 81%, Washington & Jefferson College offers a welcoming environment for those looking to dive into business, psychology, biology, social sciences, or computer science. This college is a solid choice for students who appreciate a close-knit atmosphere while accessing a diverse curriculum. The focus on these programs ensures that students can tailor their education to fit career paths with solid demand in the job market.
After graduation, students find themselves in a favorable position with a median earning of $67,918 after ten years. This figure indicates that alumni are not only landing jobs but also advancing in their fields. The affordability of education here plays a significant role; about 31% of students receive Pell Grants, which can ease financial burdens and help make attending a private college more manageable.
When it comes to the practical aspects of college life, the net price after aid stands at $25,002, and the median debt for graduates is around $27,000. This balance allows students to graduate without being overwhelmed by debt, which is crucial for financial health after college. Those who thrive at Washington & Jefferson tend to be engaged and proactive, ready to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to them.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Washington & Jefferson College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Washington & Jefferson College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Washington, Pennsylvania, Washington & Jefferson College keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 81% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 26. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 70%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Washington & Jefferson College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Washington & Jefferson College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $29,392 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $25,002 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,265 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Washington & Jefferson College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Washington & Jefferson College earn a median of $67,918, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Washington Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Washington & Jefferson College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Washington & Jefferson College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,002/year ($100,008 total). Graduates earn $67,918 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,933,287 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,833,279 (19.3× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 70% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Washington & Jefferson College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Washington & Jefferson College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.38%, well above the typical college. About 4.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Washington & Jefferson College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Washington & Jefferson College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Washington & Jefferson College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a private institution in Washington, Pennsylvania, Washington & Jefferson College keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 81% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 26. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 70%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Washington & Jefferson College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Washington & Jefferson College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $29,392 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $25,002 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,265 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
Is Washington & Jefferson College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Washington & Jefferson College earn a median of $67,918, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Washington & Jefferson College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Washington & Jefferson College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.38%, well above the typical college. About 4.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Washington & Jefferson College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Washington & Jefferson College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.62 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Washington & Jefferson College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Washington & Jefferson College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Washington & Jefferson College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.62 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note