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CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit Spokane, WA · Suburban · Far West · 100% data
B+ Earnings B- Graduation C Diversity
Graduation Rate
70% B-
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$58,561 B+
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$26,534 D
55% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
90% D+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +44% vs avg
Graduation +22% vs avg
Net Price 55% vs avg
Mobility Top 97%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.5 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Education Colleges in Washington.

13.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,330,260.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 44% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Whitworth University Matters

Whitworth University is a private university in Spokane, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
1,858
Setting
Suburban
Designations
103
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Education, Psychology

Why students choose Whitworth University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 57% overall
B+
Earnings
$58,561 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
D
Affordability
$26,534/yr net
B-
Graduation
70% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.5% climb Q1→Q5
D+
Selectivity
90% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.57 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of 90%, Whitworth University is a welcoming choice for students seeking a supportive environment to pursue their education. It’s particularly suited for those interested in fields like Business and Marketing, Education, and Psychology, among others. Students here can expect a strong sense of community, with a focus on personal growth and academic success.

After graduation, students can look forward to a solid starting salary, with a median earning of $58,561 after ten years. This figure gives a good sense of the potential return on investment for those who choose to attend. Additionally, affordability is a significant factor; with a net price of $26,534 after financial aid, many students find that a Whitworth education is within reach. While nearly 30% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating support for low-income students, the outcomes suggest that Whitworth graduates can achieve respectable earnings.

When it comes to the financials, students typically graduate with a median debt of $25,000, which is manageable compared to their earning potential. Those who thrive here are often self-motivated and appreciate a balance between rigorous academics and a nurturing community. Overall, Whitworth University seems to cater well to students looking for a meaningful college experience that prioritizes both education and personal development.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Whitworth University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Whitworth University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Whitworth University, located in Spokane, Washington, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,220. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.

Acceptance Rate
90%
Retention Rate
78%
SAT Average
1220
ACT Midpoint
25
SAT Range
1090–1330
ACT Range
21–29
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,332
Student–Faculty Ratio
10:1
Diversity Index
0.57
First-Gen Students
24%
Applicants
4,126
Admitted
3,735

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 Whitworth University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Whitworth University is $52,880, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,534. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,788 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$52,880
Out-of-State
$52,880
Avg Net Price
$26,534
Median Debt
$25,000
Pell Grant Rate
29%
Federal Loan Rate
56%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$16,788
Family Income $30K–$48K
$18,242
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,358
Family Income $110K+
$34,641

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Whitworth University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Whitworth University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Whitworth University earn a median of $58,561, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$49,510
8 Years
$56,792
10 Years
$58,561
Debt-to-Earnings
0.43x
Earning > $25K
65%

Earnings Trajectory

$49,510 6yr $56,792 8yr $58,561 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (405)
66%
100% (405)
66%
100% (405)
66%
100% (405)
66%

How Whitworth Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation70%Earnings 10yr$59KNet Price$27KRetention78%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate29%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$17K$0-30K$18K$30-48K$20K$48-75K$35K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%3.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%13.6%MOBILITY0.50%

College ROI Calculator

Is Whitworth University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Whitworth University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $26,534/year ($106,136 total). Graduates earn $58,561 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,436,396 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,330,260 (13.5× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, 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.

Total Cost (4yr)
$106,136
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,436,396
Net Return
$1,330,260
ROI Multiple
13.5×
Cost Per Year
$26,534
Median Debt
$25,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
70%

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 Whitworth University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Whitworth University 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 0.50%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.50%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
13.6%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
3.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$133,827
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Whitworth University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Whitworth University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.69
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
7.9%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$8,076,294
Investment Income
$-14,765,725

Top Programs

The fields Whitworth University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Whitworth University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Whitworth University, located in Spokane, Washington, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,220. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Whitworth University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Whitworth University is $52,880, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,534. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,788 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

Is Whitworth University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Whitworth University earn a median of $58,561, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Whitworth University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Whitworth University 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 0.50%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Whitworth University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Whitworth University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Whitworth University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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