Warren Wilson College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Swannanoa, North Carolina. It enrolls 707 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
53/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes24
Value10
Affordability56
Selectivity69
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 71.3%, Warren Wilson College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
71.3%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Warren Wilson College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Warren Wilson College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,249 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,249
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
40%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$41,500
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,050
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,450
Books & Supplies
$850
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,100
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,900
Total Cost of Attendance
$56,966
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,566
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,514
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,046
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,834
Over $110,000
$27,982
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$23,11375%percentile
$27,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,000
↓ $13,000
No Pell $8,750
↓ $16,250
Dependent students $9,478
↓ $15,522
Independent students $17,125
↓ $7,875
Female students $9,500
↓ $15,500
Male students $10,250
↓ $14,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
40% of full-time students who enrolled at Warren Wilson College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
40%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Warren Wilson College earn a median of $36,260 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,260
Earning > $25K
57%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$28,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$30,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$27,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$30,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$30,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Warren Wilson College is home to 707 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
707
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.8%543
Hispanic 8.6%61
Other 5.1%36
Black 5.0%35
International 2.8%20
Asian 0.9%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Warren Wilson College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeSwannanoa, North Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential794 beds for 707 students
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Warren Wilson College offers
a varied set of programs:
22 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Warren Wilson College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$82M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$56,062
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
57 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
21
37%
$61,451
Associate Professors
12
21%
$58,226
Assistant Professors
16
28%
$53,909
Instructors
8
14%
$42,977
Pros & Cons of Warren Wilson College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Warren Wilson College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Warren Wilson College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Warren Wilson College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Warren Wilson College.
Is Warren Wilson College hard to get into?
Admissions at Warren Wilson College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 71.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Warren Wilson College?
Warren Wilson College has an acceptance rate of 71.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Warren Wilson College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Warren Wilson College scored between 25 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Warren Wilson College cost?
The average net price after aid at Warren Wilson College is $21,249 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Warren Wilson College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,260 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,249 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Warren Wilson College known for?
Warren Wilson College is best known for its programs in Rhetoric & Composition, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Warren Wilson College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Warren Wilson College are $36,260, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Warren Wilson College accredited?
Yes. Warren Wilson College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Warren Wilson College?
Warren Wilson College enrolls 707 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Warren Wilson College?
Warren Wilson College graduates 40% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Warren Wilson College a public or private college?
Warren Wilson College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Warren Wilson College located?
Warren Wilson College is located in Swannanoa, North Carolina.
What programs does Warren Wilson College offer?
Warren Wilson College offers 22 distinct programs. The most popular include Rhetoric & Composition, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Warren Wilson College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Warren Wilson College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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