Dakota Wesleyan University vs. Whitman College

Should I go to Dakota Wesleyan University or Whitman College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Dakota Wesleyan University or Whitman College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Dakota Wesleyan University vs. Whitman College comparison
Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College College 3 College 4
Whitman College
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Overview

Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College
Location Mitchell, SD Walla Walla, WA
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 887 1,493
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #84
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dwu.edu whitman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College
Tuition (In State) $30,700 $58,200
Tuition (Out of State) $30,700 $58,200
Room & Board $7,450 $14,220
Avg Net Price $19,825 $39,935
Avg Grant Aid $21,097 $32,047
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,209 5,497
Admitted 904 2,622
Acceptance Rate 74.8% 47.7%
Enrolled % 18.6% 12.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 30/33
SAT Range 950/1420 1293/1473
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 27, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College
Graduation Rate 43% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,200 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 93%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,533 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $274 $180

Diversity

Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College
% Men 46% 44%
% Women 54% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 88% 72%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College
% In-State 61% 27%
% Out-of-State 35% 59%

Campus

Dakota Wesleyan University Whitman College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Whitman College is larger than than Dakota Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (1,493 students vs. 887 students)

Dakota Wesleyan University vs. Whitman College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dakota Wesleyan University or Whitman College?

  • Whitman College is 89.6% more expensive to attend than Dakota Wesleyan University for in-state tuition ($58,200.00 vs. $30,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 89.6% higher at Whitman College than Dakota Wesleyan University ($58,200.00 vs. $30,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota Wesleyan University than Whitman College ($19,825 vs. $39,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota Wesleyan University are 90.9% lower than costs at Whitman College ($7,450 vs. $14,220)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota Wesleyan University than Whitman College (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Whitman College students is 51.9% larger than aid received Dakota Wesleyan University ($32,047 vs. $21,097)

Dakota Wesleyan University vs. Whitman College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dakota Wesleyan University or Whitman College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Whitman College or Dakota Wesleyan University .

  • The average SAT score at Whitman College (1314) is 332 points higher than at Dakota Wesleyan University (982)
  • Incoming Whitman College students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Dakota Wesleyan University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Whitman College students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Dakota Wesleyan University (3.36)
  • Dakota Wesleyan University has a higher acceptance rate (74.8%) than Whitman College (47.7%)

Dakota Wesleyan University vs. Whitman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Dakota Wesleyan University or Whitman College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Whitman College and Dakota Wesleyan University.

  • The graduation rate at Whitman College is higher than Dakota Wesleyan University (86% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Whitman College earn on average $18,700 more per year than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $38,200)
  • Whitman College students graduate with a $9,033 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates. ($17,500 vs. $26,533)
  • Whitman College graduates are paying $94 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates. ($180 vs. $274)
  • More Whitman College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota Wesleyan University students, three years after graduation. (93% vs. 71%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/