Washington Adventist University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Takoma Park, Maryland. It enrolls 452 students (a very small, intimate 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.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
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.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes18
Value74
Affordability60
Selectivity46
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 46.2%, Washington Adventist University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
46.2%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
860 – 1130
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
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 Washington Adventist University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
13.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Washington Adventist University 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 $18,526 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,526
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
45%
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
$26,604
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,421
Room & Board (off-campus)
$4,800
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,309
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
$17,534
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,160
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,311
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,090
Over $110,000
$21,480
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.
$5,62510%percentile
$12,50025%percentile
$30,500Medianpercentile
$37,50075%percentile
$48,93390%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 $23,875
↓ $6,625
No Pell $19,126
↓ $11,374
Dependent students $19,000
↓ $11,500
Independent students $28,236
↓ $2,264
Female students $23,250
↓ $7,250
Male students $21,500
↓ $9,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,500, less than completers ($30,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
16% of full-time students who enrolled at Washington Adventist University graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
16%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
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 Washington Adventist University earn a median of $64,249 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$64,249
Earning > $25K
83%
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
$47,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,400
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 ↑
14.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 52% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Washington Adventist University is home to 452 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
452
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 36.7%166
Hispanic 23.9%108
International 15.3%69
White 6.9%31
Other 5.1%23
Asian 1.8%8
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Washington Adventist University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbTakoma Park, Maryland
Housing
Strongly residential400 beds for 452 students
Adult Learners
25%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Washington Adventist University offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
11 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 Washington Adventist University is 7:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
7:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$15M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$54,285
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
33 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
14
42%
$57,170
Associate Professors
10
30%
$55,430
Assistant Professors
7
21%
$50,696
Instructors
2
6%
$40,919
Pros & Cons of Washington Adventist University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Washington Adventist University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, Washington Adventist University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Washington Adventist University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Washington Adventist University.
Is Washington Adventist University hard to get into?
Washington Adventist University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 46.2%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Washington Adventist University?
Washington Adventist University has an acceptance rate of 46.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Washington Adventist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Washington Adventist University scored between 860 and 1130 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Washington Adventist University cost?
The average net price after aid at Washington Adventist University is $18,526 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Washington Adventist University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $64,249 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,526 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Washington Adventist University known for?
Washington Adventist University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Counseling Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Washington Adventist University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Washington Adventist University are $64,249, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Washington Adventist University accredited?
Yes. Washington Adventist University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Washington Adventist University?
Washington Adventist University enrolls 452 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Washington Adventist University?
Washington Adventist University graduates 16% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Washington Adventist University a public or private college?
Washington Adventist University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Washington Adventist University located?
Washington Adventist University is located in Takoma Park, Maryland.
What programs does Washington Adventist University offer?
Washington Adventist University offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Counseling Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Washington Adventist University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Washington Adventist University is 7:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Maryland
Other colleges in Maryland share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Educational Administration
Business Administration
Mental Health Services
Related Guides
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
How to find the colleges that deliver the strongest return on a STEM degree by weighing earnings outcomes against net cost, rather than chasing the most selective name.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
