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PrivateSuburban

Washington & Jefferson College

W&J

Washington, Pennsylvania 15301

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Sciences-focusedTight-knitSuburbanGreek life

Strong graduate outcomes — known for business

Washington & Jefferson College is a private institution in Washington with particular strength in business and biology.

A small campus of 1.2K undergraduates with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

71% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $67,918 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $25,544.

Established
1781
Motto
Juncta Juvant
Type
Private liberal arts college
Division
Division III

Plan Your Visit

82%Acceptance
SAT Avg
1,154Students
10:1Student:Faculty
71%Grad Rate
$67,918Earnings 10yr
$25,544Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate81.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$28,185
Room & Board$13,910
Books & Supplies$1,000
Total Cost of Attendance$65,117
Average Net Price$25,544
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$21,102
$30–48K$21,978
$48–75K$22,139
$75–110K$27,151
$110K+$28,860

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

23.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

-5.7%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$26,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

8

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (37)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

82%

Mixed

Student Body

Undergrads
1,154
Gender Split
46% / 54%
Women / Men
First Generation
22%
Pell Grant Recipients
29%

Race & Ethnicity

White 77%
Black 7%
Hispanic 6%
Asian 2%
Two+ 7%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate71.4%
Freshman Retention81.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$52,082
10 Years$67,918

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#90
vs 2024
Forbes
#430
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#108
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Ice hockeyWrestlingVolleyballWrestling willBasketball

History & Fun Facts

  • Washington Jefferson College traces its origin to three log cabin colleges established by three frontier clergymen in the 1780s: John McMillan, Thaddeus Dod, and Joseph Smith.
  • Washington Academy was chartered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly on September 24, 1787.
  • The first members of the board of trustees included Reverends Dod and Smith.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

100Average

Estimated from PA state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Pittsburghpop. 300K
23 mi(40 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
269 mi(466 min)
New Yorkpop. 8.3M
330 mi(572 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

PIT Pittsburgh22 mi
MDT Harrisburg184 mi
BUF Buffalo Niagara207 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA500 mi · ~14h 27m drive
New York, NY330 mi · ~9h 32m drive
Hartford, CT410 mi · ~11h 51m drive
Providence, RI474 mi · ~13h 42m drive
Albany, NY377 mi · ~10h 53m drive
Syracuse, NY290 mi · ~8h 23m drive
Rochester, NY247 mi · ~7h 8m drive
Buffalo, NY200 mi · ~5h 47m drive
Philadelphia, PA269 mi · ~7h 46m drive
Pittsburgh, PA23 mi · ~40 min drive
Harrisburg, PA177 mi · ~5h 7m drive
Newark, NJ321 mi · ~9h 16m drive
Trenton, NJ290 mi · ~8h 23m drive
Southern (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Washington & Jefferson College Application Checklist

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