Washington & Jefferson College
About
Washington & Jefferson College is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States. It traces its origin to three Presbyterian missionaries of the 1780s, John McMillan, Thaddeus Dod, and Joseph Smith, whose early schools evolved into two rival institutions: Washington College in Washington, and Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The two colleges merged in 1865 to form Washington & Jefferson College.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 13.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 31 Title IV programs, 9 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 22 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing9 · 29.0%
- No Data22 · 71.0%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Action history · 2
- Jan 2021Approved for Distance EducationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
- Jun 2019Renewal of AccreditationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 493 students received $2.9M in Pell grants, alongside $9.4M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 370 borrowers who entered repayment, 4 (1.0%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Washjeff
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 14
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus4
- Public property2
Includes 3 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Data quality: 2 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Washjeff vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Washjeff selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectWashington & Jefferson College | 70% | — | 1,309 | $25,002 | Baccalaureate |
| 62% | 80.7% | 1,308 | $14,301 | Baccalaureate | |
| 73% | 54.6% | 1,171 | $22,940 | Baccalaureate | |
| 73% | 62.7% | 2,570 | $22,736 | Baccalaureate | |
| 71% | 63.0% | 1,004 | $21,526 | Baccalaureate | |
| 66% | 64.0% | 1,195 | $18,745 | Baccalaureate | |
| 62% | 79.9% | 1,094 | $23,634 | Baccalaureate | |
| 70% | 67.8% | 2,232 | $24,280 | Baccalaureate | |
| 76% | 77.9% | 2,283 | $26,598 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | |
| 57% | 77.7% | 1,459 | $22,470 | Baccalaureate | |
| 77% | 61.0% | 1,906 | $22,900 | Baccalaureate | |
| 67% | 83.7% | 1,243 | $21,829 | Baccalaureate | |
| 77% | 64.0% | 1,841 | $31,563 | Baccalaureate | |
| 75% | 39.3% | 1,582 | $28,199 | Baccalaureate | |
| 74% | 78.9% | 1,321 | $23,988 | Baccalaureate | |
| 76% | 75.3% | 1,166 | $19,072 | Baccalaureate | |
| 68% | 70.8% | 1,136 | $24,595 | Baccalaureate | |
| 78% | 56.8% | 1,837 | $28,673 | Baccalaureate | |
| 60% | 74.1% | 1,012 | $19,140 | Baccalaureate | |
| 59% | 55.6% | 1,525 | $20,897 | Baccalaureate | |
| 70% | 86.6% | 1,687 | $27,866 | Baccalaureate | |
| 71% | 86.5% | 1,006 | $21,913 | Baccalaureate | |
| 73% | 91.8% | 1,502 | $30,536 | Baccalaureate | |
| 65% | 56.9% | 923 | $27,898 | Baccalaureate | |
| 65% | 92.6% | 1,191 | $19,859 | Baccalaureate | |
| Peer group median | 70% | 72.4% | 1,309 | $22,940 |
Institutions like Washjeff
Explore the federal data for institutions in Washjeff's comparison group.
- BaccalaureateMichigan
Albion College
Grad rate62%Admit rate80.7%Enrollment1,308Net price$14,301View data - BaccalaureatePennsylvania
Allegheny College
Grad rate73%Admit rate54.6%Enrollment1,171Net price$22,940View data - BaccalaureateIllinois
Augustana College
Grad rate73%Admit rate62.7%Enrollment2,570Net price$22,736View data - BaccalaureateWisconsin
Beloit College
Grad rate71%Admit rate63.0%Enrollment1,004Net price$21,526View data - BaccalaureateIowa
Coe College
Grad rate66%Admit rate64.0%Enrollment1,195Net price$18,745View data - BaccalaureateIowa
Cornell College
Grad rate62%Admit rate79.9%Enrollment1,094Net price$23,634View data - BaccalaureateNew Jersey
Drew University
Grad rate70%Admit rate67.8%Enrollment2,232Net price$24,280View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Small ProgramsPennsylvania
Elizabethtown College
Grad rate76%Admit rate77.9%Enrollment2,283Net price$26,598View data - BaccalaureateMaryland
Goucher College
Grad rate57%Admit rate77.7%Enrollment1,459Net price$22,470View data - BaccalaureateMinnesota
Gustavus Adolphus College
Grad rate77%Admit rate61.0%Enrollment1,906Net price$22,900View data - BaccalaureateIndiana
Hanover College
Grad rate67%Admit rate83.7%Enrollment1,243Net price$21,829View data - BaccalaureateNew York
Hobart William Smith Colleges
Grad rate77%Admit rate64.0%Enrollment1,841Net price$31,563View data - BaccalaureateIllinois
Illinois Wesleyan University
Grad rate75%Admit rate39.3%Enrollment1,582Net price$28,199View data - BaccalaureatePennsylvania
Juniata College
Grad rate74%Admit rate78.9%Enrollment1,321Net price$23,988View data - BaccalaureateMichigan
Kalamazoo College
Grad rate76%Admit rate75.3%Enrollment1,166Net price$19,072View data - BaccalaureateIllinois
Knox College
Grad rate68%Admit rate70.8%Enrollment1,136Net price$24,595View data - BaccalaureateIllinois
Lake Forest College
Grad rate78%Admit rate56.8%Enrollment1,837Net price$28,673View data - BaccalaureatePennsylvania
Lycoming College
Grad rate60%Admit rate74.1%Enrollment1,012Net price$19,140View data - BaccalaureateOhio
Ohio Wesleyan University
Grad rate59%Admit rate55.6%Enrollment1,525Net price$20,897View data - BaccalaureateVirginia
Randolph-Macon College
Grad rate70%Admit rate86.6%Enrollment1,687Net price$27,866View data - BaccalaureateKentucky
Transylvania University
Grad rate71%Admit rate86.5%Enrollment1,006Net price$21,913View data - BaccalaureatePennsylvania
Ursinus College
Grad rate73%Admit rate91.8%Enrollment1,502Net price$30,536View data - BaccalaureateMaryland
Washington College
Grad rate65%Admit rate56.9%Enrollment923Net price$27,898View data - BaccalaureatePennsylvania
Westminster College
Grad rate65%Admit rate92.6%Enrollment1,191Net price$19,859View data
Washjeff Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The page is associated with Washington & Jefferson College and includes navigation links to various departments and services such as admissions, academics, student life, alumni, and more. The page provides a contact number and physical address for the college.
Visit IR office page- Bridgette DawsonDirector of Institutional Effectiveness
Common Data Set
Washjeff's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Source publications
Reports & documents (4)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookInstitutional Effectiveness - Office - Washington & Jefferson College2024The Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Washington & Jefferson College collects, analyzes, and reports data to support planning, evaluate effectiveness, and inform strategic decision-making. It communicates information to college constituencies, produces reports, supports assessment of learning and development, assists in accreditation activities, and provides comprehensive information about the college.washjeff.edu
- GlossaryGlossaryThis page from Washington & Jefferson College contains information about the use of cookies on their website. It explains the types and purposes of cookies, such as necessary, preferences, statistics, and marketing cookies. The page includes details on specific cookies used and links to privacy policies of various third-party providers. Additionally, it offers resources related to admissions, academics, student life, athletics, and alumni for Washington & Jefferson College.washjeff.edu
- Strategic planStrategic Plan 20222022The Washington & Jefferson College Strategic Plan 2022 outlines the institution's commitment to fostering personal and professional success for students through a well-rounded educational experience. While the plan details are password protected, it emphasizes interconnectedness, hands-on learning, and individualized academic programs. The college continues to support initiatives across admissions, academics, student life, and athletics, promoting a holistic, leadership-focused community.washjeff.edu
Notable alumni of Washjeff (10)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- James G. BlainePolitics
- Benjamin BristowPolitics
- Henry StanberyLaw
- Joseph A. WalkerAerospace
- Buddy JeannetteAthletics
- Pete HenryAthletics
- Roger GoodellSports Administration
- Richard ClarkBusiness
- William Holmes McGuffeyAcademics
- Jonathan LettermanMedicine
Frequently asked questions about Washington & Jefferson College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Washjeff.
What is the graduation rate at Washington & Jefferson College?
How many students attend Washington & Jefferson College?
What is the average net price at Washington & Jefferson College?
What is the yield rate at Washington & Jefferson College?
Where is Washington & Jefferson College located?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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