Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Walla University #998 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,886 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Walla University in the 78.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Walla University #417 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Walla University #998 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 32.7 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university located in College Place, WA, Walla University enrolls roughly 1,252 undergraduates. Retention is 84.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 59.9%, placing the institution among the stronger performers nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Walla University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Walla University #417 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 71.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $68,868, placing Walla University in the 72.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $5,886 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Walla University in the 78.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's concentration in Health fields — where employer demand and salary growth remain strong — helps explain these outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Walla University enrolls 26.0% Pell-eligible students and 16.6% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a more selective admissions posture that limits the breadth of low-income enrollment. The institution sits in the 11.0 percentile for access and the 27.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes for low-income students rank in the 34.6 percentile, indicating that while access is narrower, the institution supports meaningful upward movement for those who enroll.
Walla University's published cost of attendance is $45,903. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $18,675, middle-income families pay around $20,776, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,760. Azimuth ranks Walla University #1027 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Walla University structures aid through need-based and merit-based programs, with families applying through the FAFSA and institutional aid forms. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Merit scholarships are available for qualifying students, and work-study is offered as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,842, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,131; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's typical four-year earnings of $68,868, median federal debt of $26,842 projects to a monthly payment of about $303 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Walla University is a strong fit for students seeking a private nonprofit university experience focused on health fields in College Place, WA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $68,868, placing Walla University in the 72.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $5,886 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Walla University in the 78.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 26.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 16.6% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the $28,760 published cost and what families actually pay. The institution enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students and delivers mobility outcomes that place Walla University in the 78.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix favors health-oriented fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the country.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Walla Walla University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Walla University's published cost of attendance is $45,903. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $18,675, middle-income families pay around $20,776, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,760.
Azimuth ranks Walla University #1027 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Walla University structures aid through need-based and merit-based programs, with families applying through the FAFSA and institutional aid forms. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Merit scholarships are available for qualifying students, and work-study is offered as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,842, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,131; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's typical four-year earnings of $68,868, median federal debt of $26,842 projects to a monthly payment of about $303 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Walla University earn median 4-year earnings of $68,868, placing Walla University in the 72.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Walla University sits in the 78.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Walla University #417 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's focus on fields with direct career pathways and strong labor-market demand.
The earnings pattern is anchored in health professions and related fields. Nursing is the largest program with 53 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $101,497, performing at 1.1× the national benchmark for the field.
Business Administration, Teacher Education, and Biology, General round out the top programs by enrollment, with Design and Applied Arts graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $54,035 and performing at 1.0× the national benchmark. The concentration in Health — representing a substantial share of degrees — aligns with regional healthcare workforce demand and contributes to the institution's consistent earnings outcomes across the student body.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
53 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
12 graduates
Social Work
8 graduates
Design and Applied Arts
17 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
17 graduates
Walla University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied sciences — a signature aligned with the institution's mission-driven identity as a private nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest. Nursing is the largest program with 53 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Teacher Education, Biology, General, and Design and Applied Arts.
The Health concentration reflects the institution's strength in fields where demand remains steady and career pathways are direct. Nursing leads the earnings profile, with 53 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $101,497 [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Business/Commerce, General follows with 12 graduates earning $63,844, and Design and Applied Arts with 17 graduates earning $54,035. These programs represent the institution's highest-return pathways, combining meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings outcomes that reflect direct entry into professional labor markets.
Walla University's program portfolio emphasizes applied professional fields where graduates move directly into the workforce — particularly in health professions, nursing, and related applied sciences. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) shows sustained employer demand in these sectors, supporting the institution's positioning as a career-focused private nonprofit.
The concentration in Health fields aligns with both regional employer needs in the Pacific Northwest and national labor-market trends favoring healthcare and applied professional credentials.
