Washington College
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $56,500 within 10 years; financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
Washington College is a private nonprofit institution located in Chestertown, Maryland with approximately 891 undergraduate students enrolled. Washington College has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 57%. The average net price after financial aid is $27,898 per year. The graduation rate is 65%, and the typical graduate earns $56,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
Washington College is a private liberal arts college in Chestertown, Maryland, United States. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782. George Washington supported the founding of the college by consenting to have the "College at Chester" named in his honor through financial support and service on the college's Board of Visitors and Governors. Washington College is the 10th-oldest college in the United States and was the first college chartered after American independence. The school became coeducational in 1891.
This small liberal arts college — one of the oldest in the country, with a genuine historical identity — is worth considering if you thrive in intimate academic settings, with just 890 undergrads and strong freshman retention at 87%. The financial picture is reasonably solid: median debt of $21,000 at graduation is manageable against median earnings of $56,500 a decade out, though the 74% graduation rate suggests not everyone finishes, so it's worth asking what support systems are in place. If you're drawn to the Eastern Shore lifestyle and a tight-knit campus community, this can be a good fit — just go in with eyes open about outcomes.
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: 15% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Washington College graduates earn most above the national rate in Political Science and Government ($69,018 vs $63,293 nationally), and most below it in Natural Resources Conservation and Research ($46,831 vs $55,012).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 31 | $55,165 | $57,214 | −$2,049 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 30 | $46,831 | $55,012 | −$8,181 |
| Psychology, General | 27 | $44,955 | $50,706 | −$5,751 |
| Political Science and Government | 14 | $69,018 | $63,293 | +$5,725 |
| Sociology | 12 | $53,799 | $52,657 | +$1,142 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 9 | $46,305 | $48,590 | −$2,285 |
| History | 8 | $51,167 | $50,680 | +$487 |
| Economics | 8 | $75,674 | $82,686 | −$7,012 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 7 | $67,983 | $66,596 | +$1,387 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
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 (891 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Washington College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Washington College?
Washington College has an acceptance rate of 57%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Washington College hard to get into?
Washington College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 57%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Washington College cost?
The average net price at Washington College is about $27,898 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Washington College?
Washington College has a graduation rate of 65%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
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.
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