Whitman College
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Why Whitman College Matters
Whitman College is a private liberal arts college in Walla Walla, WA 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
- 1,531
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Physical Sciences
Why students choose Whitman 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
Selective — admits about 38% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1310–1480. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $33,313 a year after grants and scholarships — 94% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $67,589 ten years after enrolling — 66% above the typical college, against $18,437 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 84% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 1,531 students and an acceptance rate of 38%, Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, attracts those who are looking for a close-knit academic community. Students here often dive into top programs like Social Sciences, Biology, Psychology, and Visual & Performing Arts. This focus on diverse fields allows for a well-rounded education in both the sciences and the arts, catering to a wide range of interests and career goals.
After graduation, Whitman alumni have a median earning of $67,589 ten years out, which reflects the value of their education in the job market. While the data on mobility isn’t available, the high graduation rate of 81% suggests that students are supported in completing their degrees, a critical factor in achieving better career outcomes. Affordability is also a consideration, especially for those who receive Pell Grants, which are awarded to about 16% of students here.
When it comes to the financial aspect, the net price after aid is around $33,313, with a median debt of $18,437. This level of debt can be manageable for many graduates, especially given their earning potential. Students who thrive here are often self-motivated and appreciate a liberal arts education that encourages critical thinking and creativity. If you value a personalized educational experience and are ready to engage deeply with your studies, Whitman could be a great fit.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Whitman 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 Whitman College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Walla Walla, Washington, Whitman College reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 38%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,410. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 81%.
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 Whitman College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Whitman College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $64,050 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 $33,313 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,567 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $18,437.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Whitman College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Whitman College earn a median of $67,589, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Whitman 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%?
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 Whitman College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Whitman College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.89%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 2.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $138,200, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Whitman College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 27 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Whitman 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 Whitman College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Whitman College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Walla Walla, Washington, Whitman College reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 38%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,410. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 81%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Whitman College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Whitman College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $64,050 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 $33,313 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,567 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $18,437.
Is Whitman College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Whitman College earn a median of $67,589, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Whitman College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Whitman College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.89%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 2.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $138,200, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Whitman 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 Whitman College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.83 (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 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Whitman College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Whitman 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 Whitman College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.83 (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 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.