Warren Wilson College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Warren Wilson College is a private research university in Swannanoa, North Carolina, enrolling about 707 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 71.34% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $36,260 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $41,500
- 2024 Average Net Price: $21,249 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 71.34% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 707 99.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 42.00%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 20.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 10.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 69.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1350
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 789
- Applicants (IPEDS): 943
- Room & Board: $13,050 annual estimate
Warren Wilson College: what the data shows
Common questions about Warren Wilson College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Warren Wilson College?
Warren Wilson College is located in Swannanoa, NC (ZIP 28778-2099).
Is Warren Wilson College public or private?
Warren Wilson College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Warren Wilson College cost?
Published tuition: $41,500.
Average net price after aid: $21,249.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $13,566 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,514 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $21,046 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,834 |
| $110,001+ | $27,982 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $166,000.
How hard is it to get into Warren Wilson College?
Admission rate: 71.34%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1350 and midpoint ACT 27.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Warren Wilson College?
Total enrollment: 707 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 789 students.
Graduate enrollment: 51 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Warren Wilson College?
150%-time completion rate: 42.00%.
First-year retention: 70.9%.
What do graduates of Warren Wilson College earn?
Median earnings: $27,723 six years after entry; $36,260 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
39.60% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Warren Wilson College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Creative Writing (35 completions)
- Environmental Studies (24 completions)
- Outdoor Education (14 completions)
- Conservation Biology (13 completions)
- Psychology, General (11 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (11 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (10 completions)
- History, General (10 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (9 completions)
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (8 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Warren Wilson College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 71.34%; completion rate 42.00%; median earnings $36,260 at 10 years; net price $21,249. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$41,500
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Warren Wilson College was $41,500.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$21,249
2024 Value
In 2024 Warren Wilson College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $21,249.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$84,996 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$21,249 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$166,000 4-Year Tuition
$13,050 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$850 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$55,400 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$221,600 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Warren Wilson College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
39.60% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
52.62% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Warren Wilson College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Warren Wilson College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $29,540 | $29,540 | $22,791 |
| 2014 | $30,852 | $30,852 | $22,323 |
| 2015 | $32,560 | $32,560 | $22,209 |
| 2016 | $33,970 | $33,970 | $24,793 |
| 2017 | $35,244 | $35,244 | $25,117 |
| 2018 | $36,280 | $36,280 | $26,017 |
| 2019 | $37,364 | $37,364 | $22,858 |
| 2020 | $38,350 | $38,350 | $24,696 |
| 2021 | $38,450 | $38,450 | $25,279 |
| 2022 | $38,450 | $38,450 | $26,589 |
| 2023 | $40,290 | $40,290 | $23,719 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
71.34% Acceptance Rate
943 Total Applicants
732 Students Admitted
196 First-Time Students Enrolled
26.78% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1350
ACT Average: 27
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7
Estimated Median GPA: 3.60
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Warren Wilson College reported total enrollment of about 707 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 33% male and 67% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (76.8%), Hispanic or Latino (8.6%), and Black or African American (5.0%). About 39.60% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 20.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Warren Wilson College in 2024 is 707 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 789 students. Graduate enrollment is about 51 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
70.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 76.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
39.60% 100% Completion Time
42.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 39.60% of students graduating from Warren Wilson College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Creative Writing: 49% male / 51% female
- Environmental Studies: 17% male / 83% female
- Outdoor Education: 43% male / 57% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Warren Wilson College.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$36,260 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
68.95% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
326.61% Return on Investment
6.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Warren Wilson College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 23 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Creative Writing: 35 completions
2. Environmental Studies: 24 completions
3. Outdoor Education: 14 completions
4. Conservation Biology: 13 completions
5. Psychology, General: 11 completions
6. Business Administration and Management, General: 11 completions
7. English Language and Literature, General: 10 completions
8. History, General: 10 completions
9. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 9 completions
Most popular programs at Warren Wilson College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Warren Wilson College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Warren Wilson College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 69.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,280
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,579
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Warren Wilson College is a private non-profit institution located in Swannanoa, NC, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Creative Writing, Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education. Enrollment is approximately 707 students. Student body composition includes White (76.8%), Hispanic or Latino (8.6%), Black or African American (5.0%). The admission rate is 71.34%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1350. The 150%-time completion rate is 42.00%. Approximately 39.60% of students receive Pell Grants. About 20.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Swannanoa, NC 28778-2099
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Warren Wilson College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Warren Wilson College located?
Warren Wilson College is located in Swannanoa, NC.
What is Warren Wilson College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Warren Wilson College is 71.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 943 applicants and 732 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Warren Wilson College cost?
Reported tuition is $41,500 and average net price is $21,249 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,050 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Warren Wilson College?
Warren Wilson College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 789 students, White (76.8%), Hispanic or Latino (8.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Warren Wilson College?
About 20.4% of students at Warren Wilson College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Warren Wilson College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Warren Wilson College reports midpoint SAT about 1350 and midpoint ACT about 27.
What do graduates of Warren Wilson College earn?
Median earnings are $27,723 six years after entry and $36,260 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Warren Wilson College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 42.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Warren Wilson College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is Warren Wilson College public or private?
Warren Wilson College is a private nonprofit institution located in Swannanoa, NC.
Is Warren Wilson College an HBCU?
No. Warren Wilson College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Warren Wilson College a tribal college?
No. Warren Wilson College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in North Carolina
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.