Western Washington University vs. Whitman College

Should I go to Western Washington University or Whitman College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western Washington 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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Western Washington University vs. Whitman College comparison
Western Washington University Whitman College College 3 College 4
Western Washington University Whitman College
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Overview

Western Washington University Whitman College
Location Bellingham, WA Walla Walla, WA
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 14,651 1,544
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #364 #94
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wwu.edu whitman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Washington University Whitman College
Tuition (In State) $7,997 $61,070
Tuition (Out of State) $26,564 $61,070
Room & Board $14,915 $14,640
Avg Net Price $22,096 $41,601
Avg Grant Aid $7,041 $33,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 92%

Admission

Western Washington University Whitman College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,243 6,185
Admitted 13,005 3,092
Acceptance Rate 91.3% 50%
Enrolled % 24.5% 14.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 27/33
SAT Range 1110/1350 1270/1480
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 Jan 31, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Western Washington University Whitman College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Western Washington University Whitman College
Graduation Rate 73% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 93%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,413 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $180

Diversity

Western Washington University Whitman College
% Men 2% 1%
% Women 4% 1%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 72%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 7%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Western Washington University Whitman College
% In-State 83% 31%
% Out-of-State 16% 53%

Campus

Western Washington 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

  • Western Washington University is larger than than Whitman College based on total student enrollment (14,651 students vs. 1,544 students)

Western Washington University vs. Whitman College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Washington University or Whitman College?

  • Whitman College is 663.7% more expensive to attend than Western Washington University for in-state tuition ($61,070.00 vs. $7,997.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 129.9% higher at Whitman College than Western Washington University ($61,070.00 vs. $26,564.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Washington University than Whitman College ($22,096 vs. $41,601)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whitman College are 1.9% lower than costs at Western Washington University ($14,640 vs. $14,915)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than Whitman College (93% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Whitman College students is 374.9% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($33,441 vs. $7,041)

Western Washington University vs. Whitman College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Whitman College (1314) is 200 points higher than at Western Washington University (1114)
  • Incoming Whitman College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Western Washington University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Whitman College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Western Washington University (3.46)
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Whitman College (50%)

Western Washington University vs. Whitman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Washington 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 Western Washington University.

  • The graduation rate at Whitman College is higher than Western Washington University (86% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Whitman College earn on average $8,900 more per year than Western Washington University graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $48,000)
  • Whitman College students graduate with a $1,913 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Washington University graduates. ($17,500 vs. $19,413)
  • Whitman College graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Western Washington University graduates. ($180 vs. $200)
  • More Whitman College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Washington 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/