Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Warren Wilson College #1448 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $25,172 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Warren Wilson College in the 3.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Warren Wilson College #1338 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Warren Wilson College #1448 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 2.4 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Swannanoa, North Carolina, Warren Wilson College enrolls roughly 707 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 70.9% freshman retention rate and a 42.0% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Warren Wilson College builds its composite around access and affordability. 39.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.4% are first-generation college students, positioning the college as a broad-access institution. Azimuth ranks Warren Wilson College #1461 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 1.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $36,684, placing Warren Wilson College in the 1.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Warren Wilson College sits in the 3.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating that graduates achieve solid financial outcomes relative to similar students at comparable institutions. The college's academic signature centers on Natural Resources, a field that aligns with both regional labor-market demand and the institution's mission-driven identity. With strong access metrics and moderate earnings outcomes, Warren Wilson College serves students who prioritize affordability and educational values alongside financial return, offering a pathway to stable post-graduation outcomes without the premium pricing of selective private institutions.
Warren Wilson College's published cost of attendance is $56,966. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $13,566, middle-income families pay around $21,046, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,982. Azimuth ranks Warren Wilson College #773 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. Warren Wilson College's financial aid structure combines need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal student loans to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college works to meet demonstrated financial need according to its aid policies. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,294; 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 median four-year earnings of $36,684, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Warren Wilson College is a strong fit for students drawn to environmental studies, outdoor education, and related fields who want a small private college experience in NC. Its program mix leans heavily toward Natural Resources, with 11% of degrees in that family. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $36,684, placing Warren Wilson College in the 1.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $25,172 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Warren Wilson College in the 3.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 39.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.4% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $27,982, and median federal debt at graduation is $25,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 71.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors environmental and outdoor fields over STEM or business. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a distinctive educational experience.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Warren Wilson College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bennington College Similar quality tier (#36270 ranked) | VT | 45% | $38,289 | #36270 | Compare |
Columbia International University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36264 ranked) | SC | 94% | $38,951 | #36264 | Compare |
Marymount Manhattan College Similar quality tier (#36260 ranked) | NY | 83% | $49,131 | #36260 | Compare |
Ringling College Of Art And Design Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36259 ranked) | FL | 70% | $43,325 | #36259 | Compare |
Naropa University Similar quality tier (#36258 ranked) | CO | 100% | $28,720 | #36258 | Compare |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
26 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
7 graduates
History
6 graduates
Social Work
10 graduates
Psychology, General
21 graduates
Warren Wilson College's program mix is anchored in natural resources, environmental sciences, and applied sustainability fields—a signature aligned with the institution's location in the Blue Ridge Mountains and its distinctive work-study model. Natural Resources Conservation and Research is the largest program with 26 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Sociology, and Visual and Performing Arts.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 144 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes. The highest-earning program at Warren Wilson College is Natural Resources Conservation and Research, where graduates earn median earnings of $43,793 four years after enrollment.
This program combines a cohort of 26 graduates with solid labor-market positioning. The institution's program portfolio reflects its emphasis on Natural Resources and related applied fields, where graduates typically enter direct workforce pathways in environmental management, conservation, agriculture, and outdoor recreation sectors.
These are high-mobility career tracks where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides useful context for how Warren Wilson College's dominant program families align with national labor-market trends in sustainability, natural resource management, and environmental sectors.
For students drawn to hands-on, field-based learning combined with work-study integration, the institution's program concentration offers a coherent pathway from undergraduate study into applied professional roles.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Warren Wilson College's published cost of attendance is $56,966. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $13,566, middle-income families pay around $21,046, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,982.
Azimuth ranks Warren Wilson College #773 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.
Warren Wilson College's financial aid structure combines need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal student loans to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college works to meet demonstrated financial need according to its aid policies. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,294; 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 median four-year earnings of $36,684, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 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/).
Warren Wilson College graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $36,684, placing Warren Wilson College in the 1.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $25,172 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Warren Wilson College in the 3.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Warren Wilson College #1461 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Warren Wilson College's concentration in Natural Resources, where graduates build careers in environmental stewardship, conservation, and land management.
Natural Resources Conservation and Research is the largest program with 26 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,793, representing 0.8× the national benchmark for the field. Other substantial programs include Psychology, General with 21 graduates, Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies with 13 graduates, and Sociology with 13 graduates.
This focused program portfolio creates a distinctive labor-market alignment: graduates enter fields with steady regional demand and mission-driven career pathways that often prioritize purpose alongside financial return.
