Washington, PAprivate nonprofitwww.washjeff.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 82%–90% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) is a small, historic liberal arts college in Pennsylvania that punches above its weight with a surprisingly robust career outcomes rate (97%) and a 'test-blind' admissions policy that bucks the standardized testing trend. With a tight-knit campus where 86% of students live on-site, W&J offers a classic liberal arts experience—33 majors, 52 minors, and a heavy emphasis on pre-professional preparation—wrapped in a collegial, almost old-school atmosphere.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
W&J takes an unconventional approach to admissions: it's test-blind, meaning SAT/ACT scores aren't considered even if submitted ([9]). Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. vary by source—from 47% ([12]) to 81% ([8])—but most peg it around 70-80% ([7], [10]). The college uses the Common Application and has rolling admissions, though the regular decision deadline is March 1 ([7]). Notably, W&J is part of the Common Data Set (CDS)A standardized report most colleges publish each year with admissions, test-score, and financial-aid figures, making schools easier to compare. initiative, which standardizes reporting of admissions and financial data across colleges ([1], [4]).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
W&J offers 33 majors and 52 minors ([13]), spanning traditional liberal arts disciplines (English, history) to newer interdisciplinary programs like Biomedical Science and Interfaith Leadership ([17]). The most popular majors include Communication, Political Science, and Biochemistry ([15]). The curriculum emphasizes 'adaptive thinking' and double majors/minors, with over 60 areas of study available ([14], [16]). Princeton Review praises its 'integrative education' for 1,200 students, blending liberal arts rigor with pre-professional training ([18]).
Campus life is residential and active: 86% of students live in college housing ([23]), with abundant clubs, intramurals, and cultural events ([19], [20]). The Student Life team emphasizes support for athletics, diversity initiatives, and community involvement ([21]). Niche reviews highlight the social scene as tight-knit, with Greek life and Division III sports (24 varsity teams) playing a notable role ([22]).
W&J's 97% career outcomes rate within six months of graduation is a standout figure ([24]). The four-year graduation rate is 70%, rising to 74% at six years ([26], [28]). Median earnings one year post-graduation are $43,047 ([29]), climbing to $52,082 by six years ([26]). The college has earned national rankings for value and salary impact, with 68% of graduates accepting employment offers directly after school ([24], [25]).
The average net price after aid is $22,930-$25,636/year ([32], [34], [35]). W&J distributed $37M in grants/scholarships in 2019-20 ([33]), with merit awards starting at $17,000 annually ([31]). Tuition alone is $29,430 ([34]), but the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator helps estimate individualized costs ([30]).
W&J combines small-college intimacy (1,200 students) with big outcomes: a 97% career placement rate and median salaries exceeding national averages for liberal arts grads. Its test-blind policy democratizes access, while programs like Biomedical Science and Interfaith Leadership bridge liberal arts and contemporary careers. The campus vibe is traditional but outcomes-focused—a rare blend of old-school charm and modern ROI.