Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Washington & Jefferson College #949 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,045, placing Washington & Jefferson College in the 70.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Washington & Jefferson College #503 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Washington & Jefferson College is a private baccalaureate college in Washington, PA, enrolling roughly 1,295 undergraduates. Azimuth ranks Washington & Jefferson College #949 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution maintains a 81.2% freshman retention rate and a 69.5% six-year graduation rate. Azimuth ranks Washington & Jefferson College #503 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,045, placing Washington & Jefferson College in a competitive position for long-term financial outcomes. The institution's strength in Business reflects a program portfolio aligned with stable career pathways and employer demand. Access and affordability shape the institution's composite position. Washington & Jefferson College sits in the 21.8 percentile for access and the 16.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 31.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 21.6% are first-generation college students. For families evaluating private baccalaureate options, Washington & Jefferson College offers a smaller-scale alternative to large research universities, with outcomes grounded in a focused academic mission and direct student-faculty engagement.
Washington & Jefferson College's published cost of attendance is $42,972, but financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $15,265; middle-income families pay around $18,975; higher-income families pay approximately $29,655. Azimuth ranks Washington & Jefferson College #1192 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 16.4th percentile 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.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $53,440; 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. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and Washington & Jefferson College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $66,045, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Washington & Jefferson College is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private liberal arts experience in PA. The college's program mix leans heavily toward Business, which represents 20% of graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,045, placing Washington & Jefferson College in the 70.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Washington & Jefferson College #503 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college serves a mix of students — 31.1% receive Pell Grants and 21.6% are first-generation. The admission rate is 80.6%, making the application process selective. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the published net price for higher-income families is $29,655, and median federal debt at graduation is $27,000. Students who can manage these costs and whose interests align with the college's business-oriented strengths will find solid outcomes.
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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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Washington & Jefferson College 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.
Washington & Jefferson College's published cost of attendance is $42,972, but financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $15,265; middle-income families pay around $18,975; higher-income families pay approximately $29,655. Azimuth ranks Washington & Jefferson College #1192 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 16.4th percentile 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.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $53,440; 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. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and Washington & Jefferson College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $66,045, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 Washington & Jefferson College earn median 4-year earnings of $66,045, placing Washington & Jefferson College in the 70.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs slightly below the $57,042 median at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Washington & Jefferson College #503 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects a career-focused curriculum anchored in Business, where most graduates move directly into professional roles with steady early-career pay growth.
Washington & Jefferson College's program portfolio centers on applied, professional fields. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 46 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,219, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field.
The Psychology, General program graduates 45 students earning $57,026 four years after enrollment, while Economics and Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services round out the top programs with 28 and 25 graduates respectively. These programs collectively represent the institution's strength in preparing students for immediate workforce entry in stable, moderately-paying career paths aligned with regional labor markets in PA.
Accounting and Related Services
21 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
14 graduates
Economics
28 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
46 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
14 graduates
Washington & Jefferson College's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied fields — a portfolio shaped by the institution's regional public-university identity and workforce-development mission. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 46 graduates annually, followed by Psychology, General, Economics, Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, and Accounting.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 340 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in health, education, and business fields — a mix that reflects both regional labor-market demand and the university's applied-professional focus. The earnings pattern is consistent across the largest programs.
Business/Commerce, General graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $72,219, while Psychology, General graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,026 and Economics graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $72,305. The highest-earning programs — Accounting with 21 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $83,516, and Artificial Intelligence with 14 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $79,272 — reflect the institution's depth in health and applied-professional fields where regional employers recruit actively.
Most of Washington & Jefferson College's dominant programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly in stable, in-demand fields. Health professions, nursing, education, and business programs align with consistent labor-market demand in the Upper Midwest region.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national wage trends and regional hiring patterns.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrews University Similar quality tier (#25990 ranked) | MI | 82% | $53,187 | #25990 | Compare |
University Of Holy Cross Similar quality tier (#25989 ranked) | LA | 74% | $49,316 | #25989 | Compare |
Augustana University Similar quality tier (#26004 ranked) | SD | 68% | $59,217 | #26004 | Compare |
Andrew College Similar quality tier (#25984 ranked) | GA | 46% | $38,475 | #25984 | Compare |
George Fox University Similar quality tier (#26007 ranked) | OR | 94% | $59,761 | #26007 | Compare |
