Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Washington, Pennsylvania
81.5% Acceptance Rate
Washington & Jefferson College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
81.5%Acceptance Rate
3.54Avg GPA
1130Avg SAT
$65,117Annual Cost
$67,918Grad Salary
29.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
81.5%
Avg GPA
3.54
Avg SAT
1130
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1090–1160
Need-Based Aid
29.4% receive Pell
Washington & Jefferson College is a private, selective liberal arts institution in Pennsylvania known for its commitment to academic excellence, critical inquiry, and character development. With a strong focus on the liberal arts and a supportive campus community, the college fosters an environment that encourages intellectual and personal growth. Its emphasis on providing a high-value, well-rounded education makes it a premier choice for students seeking a formative and values-based collegiate experience.
Washington & Jefferson College Acceptance Rate
Washington & Jefferson College (WJ College) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 81.5% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 81.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.54 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.34 – 3.53
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.09
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Washington & Jefferson College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Washington & Jefferson College is December 1 for Early Decision applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 111 days left — Early Decision
Early Decision
December 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Action
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
March 1
Decision by: April 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
WJ College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at WJ College is 3.54. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.24 and 3.54? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.74–3.94.WJ College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.54 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.34 – 3.53
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.14 – 3.33
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.13
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- W&J is test-blind, not merely test-optional - SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions even if submitted, per the college's current admissions page.
- The Magellan Project funds ~100 student-designed travel/research projects each year (roughly $3,000, 3-12 weeks) for first-years through juniors with a 2.5+ GPA.
- Formal Early Acceptance pathway with LECOM covers osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, and dental medicine, with the MCAT waived for the medicine track.
- The Temple University combined BS/MD program is the one selective exception to test-blind admission, expecting roughly a 1350+ SAT or 31+ ACT.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at WJ College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Washington & Jefferson College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Washington & Jefferson College (WJ College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if WJ College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into WJ College Without SAT or ACT?
WJ College neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average. Otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Washington & Jefferson College Average SAT Score: 1130
The average SAT score of admitted students at Washington & Jefferson College is 1130 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1130 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1160 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Washington & Jefferson College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1090, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at WJ College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1130 | 1090 | 1160 |
Below 1090, you're behind most admitted students; at 1160 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Washington & Jefferson College (WJ College) with a 1150 SAT?
A 1150 SAT puts you ahead of most of WJ College's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for WJ College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into WJ College isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Understand That W&J Is Test-Blind, Not Just Test-Optional
W&J's own admissions page states the college is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions even if submitted, a stricter policy than the "test-optional" label many third-party sites still use. Since scores carry zero weight, don't spend application time chasing a marginal retake - redirect that energy toward the 250-500 word personal statement, which the college's own holistic-review order lists as a distinct, weighted component, after GPA and course rigor, before extracurriculars, rather than an optional add-on.
Use the Magellan Project as a Concrete Talking Point, Not Just a Perk
W&J funds student-designed travel and research projects (the Magellan Project) for first-years through juniors with a 2.5+ GPA, covering roughly $3,000 for 3-12 week independent projects - about 100 are funded each year. In your personal statement or an interview, naming a specific, plausible Magellan project idea tied to your intended major, not a generic "travel the world" pitch, signals you've researched the school's actual distinguishing program rather than its brand name.
Leverage the LECOM Early Acceptance Pathway if Pre-Health Is the Goal
W&J has a formal Early Acceptance Program with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) covering its D.O., Pharm.D., and D.M.D. programs - LECOM interviews candidates before or within their first two years at W&J, and students accepted into the osteopathic medicine track through this pathway are not required to take the MCAT. If medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry is the goal, contact the Pre-Health Professions Committee during your first semester, not senior year, since the interview window opens early.
Know That the Temple University BS/MD Track Is the One Selective Exception
W&J is test-blind for general admission, but its combined-degree partnership with Temple's medical school is the one program where standardized testing still matters - it typically expects a 1350+ SAT (no subscore below 600) or a 31+ ACT alongside a roughly 3.95 unweighted GPA, and weighs research, shadowing, and clinical exposure over course rigor alone. If this specific track is your target, treat it as its own separate, more selective application rather than assuming the test-blind policy applies universally.
Expert Insight:
Because W&J is genuinely easy to get into on paper (roughly 80% overall acceptance) and doesn't weight test scores at all, some applicants submit a bare-minimum application and skip the personal statement entirely - but the college's own admissions page lists the personal statement as a distinct, ordered factor in holistic review, and skipping it removes one of the only differentiating pieces of your file at a school that isn't looking at test scores to break ties.
WJ College Profile
Full Name
Washington & Jefferson College (WJ College)
City
Washington
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
15301
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a WJ College Degree Worth It?
WJ College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $61,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.96%.
How much does a degree from WJ College Cost?
The sticker price is $65,117/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
29.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 77% take federal loans at WJ College. File your FAFSA early and list WJ College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a WJ College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $67,918. That's about 67% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Washington & Jefferson College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Washington & Jefferson College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Washington & Jefferson College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
Degree Programs at WJ College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About WJ College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Washington & Jefferson College run about $67,918 a year.
At about $65,117 a year, Washington & Jefferson College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 29.4% receive a Pell Grant at Washington & Jefferson College. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 81.5%, Washington & Jefferson College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Washington & Jefferson College average a 3.54 GPA.
Washington & Jefferson College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.24 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.14, Washington & Jefferson College becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Washington & Jefferson College — aim above 1130, ideally within the 1090–1160 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Washington & Jefferson College is December 1 for Early Decision applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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