Washington & Jefferson College is where success is founded and changemakers get their start.

Our story begins with three leaders creating three colleges on the American frontier. Since then, W&J College has emerged as a leading institution with a storied history of doers, dreamers, and achievers. For over 200 years, W&J College has produced ethical, well-rounded, and informed leaders in all fields.

Because of our practical & liberating academic philosophy, students choose two fields of study to develop a double major or major/minor combination. We have over 60 academic programs, including a build-your-own Thematic Major, for students to fully customize their W&J education. Among the most popular majors are business, psychology, English, history, economics, neuroscience, and computing & information studies. 99% of faculty hold terminal degrees. Current students and alumni will tell you it is the student-faculty relationships that are at the top of the many aspects that make the W&J student experience worth it. Classes are on taught in-person, on-campus.

Beyond the classroom, opportunities abound for internships, research, study-abroad programs, student activities through clubs & organizations, NCAA Division III athletics and volunteer service. This allows students to pair their extra-curricular activities with their education to live out their passions. No two student experiences are the same at W&J. 

W&J students craft a four-year professional development plan with the Center for Professional Pathways and receive ethical leadership training through our Center for Ethical Leadership for four years.

Current students and alumni will tell also you it is W&J's tight-knit community that makes it unique. On its 60-acre, suburban campus in Southwestern, Pennsylvania, among a student body that totals over 1,100, students know each other's names and stories. You're not a number at W&J. You are your own individual.

Plus, the city of Pittsburgh is just 30 minutes north. W&J students enjoy all of the entertainment that comes with Pittsburgh's sports scene, arts and museums, eclectic restaurants, and numerous festivals throughout the year. Ten Fortune 500 companies within the region make it an attractive place for W&J graduates to obtain careers, especially with the support of 14,000 active and international alumni.

W&J College continues to lead, educating individuals who can interpret, analyze, critique, innovate, and communicate the skills employers will always value most.

About Washington & Jefferson College

At W&J, we are committed to student success. Toward that end, we will work with you in personalized, one-on-one advising sessions and in challenging, small classes to help you discover your talents, nurture them, and excel. We know that on-time graduation is essential— it makes your education affordable and provides important career momentum.

The W&J On-Time Graduation Guarantee promises that all students who meet the College’s academic expectations will be able to graduate in four years. In the event that a student who has met these requirements is not able to graduate in four years, the College will provide up to one year of tuition at W&J free of charge. We are confident enough to make this guarantee because we have such a strong record, recognized nationally by The Princeton Review and Forbes Magazine, for the success of our students and our graduates.

• 97% of W&J graduates start a career or further their education within six months of graduation
• On average, W&J graduates are making $22,600 per year more than the national median salary for college graduates.
• $56,900 is the median starting salary for recent W&J graduates
• Our 1.4% student loan default rate dwarfs the national average of 7.3%, meaning W&J graduates begin high-quality careers after graduation in which they are able to afford paying back their loan obligations.
• The Department of Education’s College Scorecard reports the average income (median earnings) for graduates within five years of graduation = $64,199
• A new study by Georgetown University rated W&J in the top-5 percent of not-for-profit colleges and universities with an ROI of $1,308,000.
• In the Georgetown study, W&J was also rated in the top-10 percent of colleges and universities in the category of 40-year ROI for Pell eligible students.
• W&J is ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Niche, Money.com, and Washington Monthly for Best Value
• W&J is a Best Liberal Arts College by U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, Niche, Washington Monthly, Wall Street Journal, Academic Influence, and College Factual

Have you heard? We have revised our published tuition price to more clearly reflect the actual amount students and their families now pay. Beginning Fall 2023, students tuition is $27,605, a 44.4% reduction. Visit our Financial Aid & Affordability page on our website to learn how we will invest in you to make your W&J education financially attainable.

Mission Statement

The mission of Washington & Jefferson College is to graduate people of Uncommon Integrity, competence and maturity who are effective lifelong learners and responsible citizens, and who are prepared to contribute substantially to the world in which they live.

To this end, the College promotes the development of skills, knowledge, personal qualities and a worldview that characterizes a well-educated person. All components of the living and learning environment at W&J are designed and intended to support this mission.