At $25,544/yr net price, Washington & Jefferson College graduates earn $67,918/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $33,918/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $25,544 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $102,176 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $67,918/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$33,918/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 71.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,102/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,978/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,139/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,151/yr |
| $110,001+ | $28,860/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $51,392 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $51,273 | |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $46,087 | $27,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Bachelor | $41,286 | $26,000 |
| History. | Bachelor | $38,289 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $35,954 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $32,925 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $28,055 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
71.4% of students at Washington & Jefferson College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 29% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Washington & Jefferson College gives you a middling financial return with a real gap between what you pay and what most listed programs pay early. The overall median 10-year earnings look solid, but the specific bachelor's programs on record start well below that number, so your first years out of school will feel tighter than the topline suggests.
Accounting and computer and information sciences are your safest bets here, both landing near $51k early and pulling well ahead of history at $38k. Economics and general business sit in the middle. If you enroll planning to major in history, know that you'll carry the same roughly $27,000 in debt as an accounting graduate while earning about $13,000 less per year to pay it down. The credential and the debt are equal. the payoff is not.
The main risk is cost. At over $25k a year net, and $27,000 in median debt, you need one of the higher-earning majors to make the math work quickly. The 71% graduation rate and 82% retention are decent, so the odds you finish and actually get the degree you're paying for are reasonable.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $30k, you pay about $21,100. over $110k, you pay closer to $28,900. That's a meaningful discount at the bottom, but the drop only kicks in below the $75k line, so middle-income families in the $48-75k band still pay around $22,100 with limited relief.
This school fits you if you're targeting accounting, computer science, or business and qualify for the lower net-price tiers. If you're set on a humanities major like history and paying near full price, the debt-to-earnings gap makes this a hard financial call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washington & Jefferson College worth the cost?
Washington & Jefferson College's graduates earn $67,918 annually ten years after graduation, which is solid but not exceptional given the $25,544 yearly net cost. With 71% of students graduating and median debt around $27,000, the value depends heavily on your major and career goals.
What are the best paying majors at Washington & Jefferson College?
Accounting ($51,392) and computer science ($51,273) offer the strongest earning potential at Washington & Jefferson College. Business majors earn around $41,286, while history graduates average just $38,289, making major choice critical for ROI.
How much debt do Washington & Jefferson College graduates have?
Washington & Jefferson College graduates carry a median debt of $27,000, which is manageable compared to the national average. However, this debt load could be problematic for lower-earning majors like history.
Does Washington & Jefferson College have good financial aid?
With a net price of $25,544 per year, Washington & Jefferson College provides meaningful financial aid that brings costs below the sticker price. The 88% acceptance rate suggests less competitive merit aid, so need-based aid likely drives most discounts.