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

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.

Academically, you will choose classes whose subjects you are passionate about. Over four years, you will graduate with a double major or major/minor combination. We have over 60 academic programs, including a build-your-own Thematic Major, for you to fully customize your W&J education. Among the most popular W&J majors are business, psychology, English, political science, economics, neuroscience, accounting, and computing & information studies. 99% of faculty hold terminal degrees. Current students and alumni will tell you it is the student-faculty relationships that make the W&J student experience worth it. Classes are taught in-person, on-campus.

Beyond the classroom, opportunities abound for internships, research, study abroad, student activities through clubs & organizations, NCAA Division III athletics, and volunteer service. These experiences will allow you to pair your extra-curricular activities with your education to build out your résumés and make memories with friends. No two student experiences are the same at W&J. 

You will craft a four-year professional development plan with the Center for Professional Pathways and receive ethical leadership training through our Center for Ethical Leadership.

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

Plus, the city of Pittsburgh is just 30 minutes north. You will 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 16,000 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. Your future is founded here.

About Washington & Jefferson College

At Washington & Jefferson College, 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.

To that end, the W&J On-Time Graduation Guarantee promises that all students who meet our 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, we 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.

• Over the last five years, between 90%-97% of W&J graduates began a career or furthered their education within six months of graduation, on-average.
• 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. Your future is founded here.

At Washington & Jefferson College, 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.

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.