Understanding Whitman College Tuition and Fees
Whitman College, a private institution in Walla Walla, Washington, provides undergraduate degrees across 42 majors. While known for its Research and Experimental Psychology program, the college's cost structure and financial aid options are crucial considerations for prospective students and their families. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Whitman College's tuition, fees, financial aid opportunities, and student loan debt.
The Cost of a Whitman Education
The charges for a two-semester year at Whitman, for a student living in a residence hall, include tuition, ASWC (student association) fees, board (Meal Plan 2), room (standard rate), and estimated costs for books and supplies. Tuition covers considerably less than the true cost of a Whitman education, with the remainder provided by income from the college’s endowment and by gifts from alumni and other friends of the college. In effect, then, these revenue sources provide a partial scholarship to all students, regardless of whether they receive financial aid. Whitman reserves the right to adjust its charges, though charges effective at the beginning of a semester will not be changed during that semester.
Standard Charges
As of now, the breakdown of charges for a typical year is as follows:
- Tuition: \$66,050
- ASWC (Student Association): \$560
- Board (Meal Plan 2): \$8,646
- Room (Standard Rate): \$6,846
- Books and Supplies (Estimated): \$1,400
Additional course fees, the cost of private music lessons, and personal expenses will vary from student to student. At Whitman and in the Walla Walla community, costs of social, recreational, and extracurricular activities tend to be relatively modest. The inclusive budget - that is, a typical budget for a student taking advantage of all customary types of college activity - is about \$83,502 a year.
Payment Policies
Charges are due and payable prior to the beginning of each semester; mid-August for the fall semester and mid-January for the spring semester. Charges must be paid in full or arrangements completed for a deferred payment plan before each semester. All charges, net of financial aid, must be paid by cash or check to the Office of Accounting & Business Services. Each semester you may defer your tuition, room, and board charges, making four deferred payments. There is a $35 per semester set-up fee. All unpaid balances, covered by the deferred payment agreements, will be assessed finance charges equivalent to 5 percent per year. Failure to make deferred payments on a timely basis may result in the loss of the opportunity to establish a payment plan in future semesters. Our payment plan calculator at whit.mn/ppcalc can give you an idea of what your four equal payments per semester will be. Payment plan contracts should be requested by July 15th for fall semester and November 15th for spring semester, and will cease to be drafted as of the first Friday of classes each semester. All unpaid balances over $100 will be assessed finance charges equivalent to 1 percent per month. It is the student’s responsibility to be knowledgeable about and to remain current in payment for charges to his or her Student Account. Registration in classes for upcoming semesters may be denied for failure to keep current on college accounts; and Graduates may be denied a diploma.
Read also: Whitman Grant Opportunities
Whitman College uses a collection agency to collect delinquent accounts and these costs may be added to the debt at the time it is referred to the collection agency. When appropriate, information concerning such past due accounts will be provided to credit bureaus.
Total Cost vs. Net Price
Whitman College's tuition is $66,610. Compared with the national average cost of tuition of $50,159, Whitman College is more expensive. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers.
As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At Whitman College, the total cost is $81,262. However, the "sticker price" can be misleading. The net price, which is the actual amount a student pays after factoring in grants and scholarships, provides a more accurate picture. For example: This year at Whitman College, we project that on average students will pay $46,068, while the advertised price of attendance is $83,099. That’s a difference of $37,032.
Financial Aid Opportunities
Whitman College is committed to making education accessible through its robust financial aid program. Nearly 97% of Whitman students receive scholarships and aid, and our graduates leave with significantly lower student loan debt than the national average.
Types of Aid Available
Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA. At Whitman College, the average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students was $51,114. Additionally, 61% of first-year students received need-based financial aid in fall 2023. Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $5,188. Merit-based aid, also called non-need-based aid, is awarded for a specific talent or academic achievement. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Whitman College - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $21,981. Whitman College met 97% of its students’ financial aid need.
Read also: Legacy of Whitman College
Need-Based Aid
Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. These scholarships and grants don’t need to be paid back.
Merit-Based Aid
Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.
Financial Aid Application Process
Financial Aid Application Due January 15. The last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork. Applications received prior to this date will be given the strongest consideration. Still apply for financial aid if you don’t make this due date. Notification Date March 1 When students receive a letter with the amount and types of aid the college is offering.
Early Financial Aid Guarantee
Are you a high school senior? If so, we have an even better tool for you to use! Our Early Financial Aid Guarantee will provide a fully guaranteed financial aid offer. (It's available yearly from June 30 through Dec. First, tell us a little about the student who would be attending Whitman College: When does the student plan to begin college? Does the student qualify as an independent student?(required)? You may be considered an independent student if you're 24 or older, married, a veteran or active-duty military, have dependents, or meet certain other criteria like being in foster care, legally emancipated, or unhoused. Date of Birth(required)Date of Birth(required)What state does the student live in?(required)Next, tell us a bit about your financial situation. We’ll use this information to estimate what your family will be expected to contribute toward the cost of attending Whitman, which determines whether you will qualify for need-based financial aid. Parent Annual Total Income(required)?Select the approximate combined adjusted gross income of parents (including wages, salaries, tips, business and farm income, and commissions). This is typical on the parents’ W-2 forms of Form 1040. Parent Annual Total Assets(required)?Select the approximate total value of the combined assets of parents. Include cash savings, investments, 529 plans owned by a parent, property, and the value of a small business or family farm. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, RETIREMENT FUNDS, OR ANNUITIES. Student Annual Total Income(required) Student Annual Total Assets(required)?Select the approximate total value of the combined assets of the student. Include cash savings, investments, 529 plans owned by the student (this is rare), and any property or business/farm assets owned by the student. Number of people in the student's household(required) Number of family members, including the student, who will be attending college at the same time(required)?Select the number members in the student’s immediate family who will be enrolled at least half-time in a college or university, including the student.Lastly, tell us about your academics. We’ll use this information to estimate academic merit scholarships you may qualify for.What high school will you graduate from?School CEEB Code (hidden)Will you have taken advanced level courses (e.g., Honors, IB, AP, Dual Enrollment, etc.) classes by the time you graduate from high school?(required)Will you have taken advanced level courses (e.g., Honors, IB, AP, Dual Enrollment, etc.) classes by the time you graduate from high school?(required)Approximately how many advanced level courses will you have taken by the time you graduate from high school? Unweighted GPA*(required)?An unweighted GPA is a standardized evaluation system that weighs each course equally. The estimate provided using this net price calculator does not represent a final determination or actual award of financial assistance. The cost of attendance and financial aid availability may change.
Student Loan Debt
How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate. At Whitman College, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $18,437. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $195. Additionally, 2% of graduating students at Whitman College took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $48,944 in private loan debt at graduation. Average Total Indebtedness of 2024 Graduating Class $18,721. Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2024) 40%.
Read also: Whitman Campus Life
Additional Ways to Lessen the Burden of Student Loans
Work-Study Programs and Campus Jobs
Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job. Begin your job search by checking whether your college has in-person or online job boards.
Career Coaching
At Whitman, every student is paired with a dedicated Career Coach-at no additional cost. Whether you’re looking for internships, preparing for graduate school or pursuing your first job, your coach helps you every step of the way.
Understanding Net Price and Income Brackets
Your net price is a college’s cost of attendance minus the grants and scholarships you receive. The net price you pay for a particular college is specific to you because it’s based on your personal circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies. Use the college’s Net Price calculator for the most accurate estimate of your net price. How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At Whitman College this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $52,328, while students with incomes below $30K will pay around $21,380. That's a difference of $30,948.
Net Price by Income Bracket
- <\$30K: \$21,380
- \$30K-\$48K: \$21,842
- \$48K-\$75K: \$31,478
- \$75K-\$110K: \$30,817
- >\$110K: \$52,328
Graduation and Retention Rates
A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At Whitman College, over the last five years 87% of students earned their bachelor’s degree within six years of enrolling. Student retention, or how often students return to continue their degree after completing their first year, is another helpful indicator. Over the last five years, at Whitman College, about 85% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.
Graduation Rates by Demographic
Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate.
- American Indian/Alaska Native: 67%
- Asian: 84%
- Black: 74%
- Hispanic: 79%
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 67%
- White: 89%
- Multiple races: 87%
- Unknown race: 85%
tags: #Whitman #college #tuition #fees
