Wabash College

Wabash College's published cost of attendance reaches $62,750 per year, including $49,125 in tuition, $13,300 for room and board, and $1,250 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $21,906 after financial aid, representing savings of $40,844 from the sticker price.

This net price falls close to the peer median of $21,812, indicating costs align with similar private liberal arts institutions. The substantial gap between published and actual costs reflects significant financial aid distribution, though aid concentration varies by family income level.

Students from different economic backgrounds experience widely different pricing structures, ranging from $15,586 for the lowest-income families to $29,968 for the highest-income tier. The financial aid savings of $40,844 represents 65% of the total cost of attendance, indicating substantial institutional investment in student affordability.

Despite these aid levels, net costs remain higher than many public alternatives, reflecting the premium pricing structure common among private liberal arts colleges. Families should focus on net price calculations rather than sticker price when evaluating affordability, as the published cost significantly overstates actual student payments across most income levels.

Wabash College graduates demonstrate substantial earnings growth from early to mid-career periods. Median earnings rise from $52,667 six years after enrollment to $57,515 at eight years and $69,952 at ten years, representing 32.8% growth from the six-year mark.

These outcomes are based on cohorts ranging from 262 to 322 graduates, providing solid confidence in reported figures despite the institution's small size. Graduates earn $9,287 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Wabash in the 84.2nd percentile for earnings uplift.

The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation, with the 25th percentile at $43,277 and 75th percentile at $97,893. Compared to peer institutions with similar student profiles, Wabash graduates earn $19,540 more annually at the ten-year mark.

Approximately 19% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study according to program-based estimates, indicating the majority enter the workforce directly after completing their bachelor's degree. The institution's concentrated program offerings in political science and economics fields contribute to these outcomes, with both programs showing strong labor market performance.

Wabash College admits approximately 62.8% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 in 5 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places Wabash in the moderately selective category, with admission rates between 50-75%.

The peer median admission rate of 75.6% indicates Wabash operates with somewhat more selective standards than typical private liberal arts colleges, though the difference is modest at 12.8 percentage points. This level of selectivity means that students with solid academic credentials face reasonable admission odds, though the institution maintains quality standards through its applicant evaluation process.

Students should expect competition particularly among highly qualified applicants, but admission remains accessible for students who meet academic thresholds. The combination of moderate selectivity with strong post-graduation outcomes makes Wabash attractive to students seeking quality liberal arts education without the uncertainty of highly competitive admission processes.

For students building college lists, Wabash represents a solid match-level school rather than a high-reach option. Applicants should consider how their academic profile aligns with admitted student characteristics when determining application strategy and building a balanced list of target institutions.

Wabash College offers two bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data available for analysis. American Government and Politics ranks #45 nationally and #2 in Indiana, producing 27 graduates with median earnings of $56,880 and a value score of 85.0.

This program represents 55.1% of the institution's graduate cohort and serves as a flagship offering. Applied Economics ranks #129 nationally and #3 in Indiana, graduating 22 students with median earnings of $64,767 and a value score of 36.6.

This program accounts for 44.9% of graduates and demonstrates strong labor market outcomes. Both programs qualify as top majors at the school, reflecting Wabash's concentrated focus on social sciences and political economy fields.

The limited program portfolio reflects the institution's liberal arts mission and small college structure, with deep specialization rather than broad programmatic diversity. Students benefit from intensive attention and specialized faculty expertise within these concentrated areas of study.