Whitman College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Whitman College, Memorial Hall

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Whitman College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 56%. Located in the small town of Walla Walla, Washington, Whitman offers 49 majors, small classes, and a 9-to-1 student / faculty ratio. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Whitman was awarded a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Students interested in the sciences, engineering, or law can can take advantage of collaborations with top schools like CaltechColumbiaDuke and Washington University. Whitman also offers a wide range of options for study abroad with programs in 45 countries. In athletics, Whitman competes in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference.

Considering applying to Whitman College? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Whitman College had an acceptance rate of 56%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 56 students were admitted, making Whitman's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 4,823
Percent Admitted 56%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 16%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Whitman College has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Whitman may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 45% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 630 710
Math 610 740
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Whitman College's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Whitman scored between 630 and 710, while 25% scored below 630 and 25% scored above 710. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 610 and 740, while 25% scored below 610 and 25% scored above 740. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1450 or higher is competitive for Whitman College.

Requirements

Whitman College does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Whitman participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Whitman does not require the optional essay section of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Whitman College has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 26% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 30 35
Math 25 31
Composite 28 33

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Whitman College's admitted students fall within the top 12% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Whitman received a composite ACT score between 28 and 33, while 25% scored above 33 and 25% scored below 28.

Requirements

Note that Whitman does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, Whitman participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Whitman does not require the optional ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for Whitman College's incoming freshmen class was 3.62, and 44% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Whitman College have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

Whitman College Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
Whitman College Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Whitman College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Whitman College, which accepts just over half of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool with above average GPAs and SAT/ACT scores. However, Whitman also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Whitman strongly recommends interviews for interested applicants. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Whitman's average range.

In the graph above, the green and blue dots represent accepted students. As you can see, the majority of students who got in had GPAs in the "A" range, SAT scores (ERW+M) above 1200, and ACT composite scores of 27 or higher. Many admitted students had 4.0 averages.

If You Like Whitman College, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Whitman College Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "Whitman College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/whitman-college-admissions-788236. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 28). Whitman College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/whitman-college-admissions-788236 Grove, Allen. "Whitman College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/whitman-college-admissions-788236 (accessed April 16, 2024).