We Encourage You to "Think Beyond"

To visit us is to love us

Visiting lets you truly experience the energy of Washington College! 

Our tour guides serve up a phenomenal view of student life and we specialize in tailoring tours to fit your interests. During your visit, you can tour the main and waterfront campuses, shadow a class, and even schedule a meeting with your WC admissions counselor. It's your day, your way. We also offer special admissions events throughout the year. You can't go wrong either way.

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Your application process is personalized

At Washington College, there is no screening formula for evaluating applications. We know you're unique and deserve to be treated that way. 

Your assigned admissions counselor is the first person to read your application with special care and attention. But that's not all. Your admissions counselor is available to answer all of your questions and to help guide you through the entire admissions process. You even have the option to request an interview to meet face-to-face. Our goal is to know you beyond the grades and test scores.

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We prioritize affordability

A private education is possible. Washington College offers several types of financial aid, from a variety of sources, to help qualified full-time undergraduate students meet their college expenses. 

In 2025, 100% of incoming students received institutional aid. Upon admission, you're automatically awarded a merit scholarship of at least $33,000 per year, helping make WC an affordable educational experience.

Decidedly liberal arts

Yes, we have 50+ academic programs where you can pursue your passions from the arts, history, and literature to business, engineering, pre-health, and computer science. (We also have dual-degree programs and post-graduate partnerships.)

But even more than the necessary information, skill sets, and competencies you'll learn, a liberal arts education from Washington College will help you cultivate the soft skills that will let you shine and advance your career beyond entry level. Writing skills are emphasized across all majors, building on a scaffolding that spans from freshman seminar to your Senior Capstone Experience.

Liberal arts emphasize rational thought, critical thinking, analytical skills, communication, problem-solving abilities, and a strong moral compass to provide a fuller global perspective that creates a pathway to fulfillment, leadership and advancement.

Our difference: liberal arts + experiential learning

Experiential learning is the launchpad for opportunities that matter for you. So, what is experiential learning? It's research, internships, field study, civic engagement, study abroad, and other learning opportunities that make for incredible knowledge and resumés that impress employers and graduate schools. 

We truly believe that our emphasis on experiential learning coupled with an outstanding liberal arts curriculum is what elevates Washington College above the rest. We have stipends to support our students with their unpaid internships to help cover costs of living.

Sized to maximize your opportunities

We are sized for our faculty to be able to get to know their students, contributing even more to our culture of teaching. We have a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 12. Mentorship is part of our campus culture.

You will never be taught by teaching assistants or have to wait behind grad students for research opportunities. Ninety-nine percent of our faculty have terminal degrees in their fields. Meaning, they have reached the top — think PhD, DMA, DEd, or MFA.

Support through every step of your college career

We don't just want to list opportunities, we want to make sure you can access them so that you don't miss a single thing that can make a difference for your future. It all starts with our Explore! Orientation program to make your transition to college less daunting and moves through your First Year Seminar (FYS) where your work with the Center for Career Development begins to map your four-year college plan through our unique Career Awareness Program.

During your FYS, you'll be introduced to your Peer Mentor Support group and to the resources provided through The Writing Center, The Quantitative Skills Center, and the Office of Academic Skills which connects students to peer tutors and course mentors.

You can take on your future with confidence knowing these helpful resources and the support of the career development team and your faculty mentors are behind you.

More than academics: mind and body

The college experience is more than academics, so Washington College is focused on the well-being of our students and the challenges they face. We support a campus that represents people of all backgrounds and in doing so, we create a community that is stronger and better prepares students for the connected global society. 

Campus life is vibrant with over 80 clubs and organizations, varsity, club, and intramural sports, live theater, music, volunteerism, leadership, and more. Residence halls have been renovated as part of a $20 million investment in physical improvements to the campus. Of course we have a gym, but we also have a boathouse on our gorgeous Waterfront Campus where you can borrow kayaks and SUPs.

Further investments in student wellness include, a credit-bearing Personal Development program, fully staffed counseling services, and a full-time professional academic advisor focused on first-year students.

A place like no other: pure Eastern Shore

Washington College, in Chestertown, Maryland, offers college life with an Eastern Shore flair: small town connections with nearby cultural and professional opportunities in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia. 

Our stunning views, a laid-back vibe, and top-notch education, make us a place like no other! Surrounded by historic charm and scenic landscapes, our 112-acre main campus, in addition to our Waterfront Campus and 5,000-acre River and Field Campus, provide ample chances for outdoor learning and exploration. It's just different living by the Chester River. 

Our close ties with Chestertown makes for a holistic college experience that blends academics with civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and adventure to make a real difference in the world.