Warren Wilson College
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. earnings barely cover the debt load. financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
Warren Wilson College is a private nonprofit institution located in Swannanoa, North Carolina with approximately 707 undergraduate students enrolled. Warren Wilson College has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 71%. The average net price after financial aid is $21,249 per year. The graduation rate is 42%, and the typical graduate earns $29,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
Warren Wilson College (WWC) is a private liberal arts college in Swannanoa, North Carolina. It is known for its curriculum that combines academics, work, and service as every student must complete a required course of study, work an on-campus job, and perform community service. Warren Wilson requires students to work for the institution to graduate and is one of nine colleges in the Work Colleges Consortium.
The numbers tell a mixed story here — the required work-service-academics model is genuinely distinctive and helps explain why median debt at graduation is a remarkably low $9,500, but a 43% graduation rate and 70% freshman retention rate suggest a lot of students don't finish, which is a real concern worth exploring. Median earnings of $29,500 a decade out are modest, so this isn't the path for students prioritizing financial return. Worth considering if you're drawn to hands-on, community-rooted learning and are confident you'll thrive in a highly structured, small (720 students) environment — but talk honestly with current students about why so many leave.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 7% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (707 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in North Carolina
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC · Public
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.