Walla Walla University

Research Walla Walla University. Learn more about its admissions information, degree programs, and financial aid to make an informed decision about your education.

About Walla Walla University

Walla Walla University was founded in 1892 in College Place, Washington. The private, nonprofit university is associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. All students must participate in general education courses that are grounded in religious studies as well as weekly chapel and other devotion services. Additionally, classes and college offices are closed on the Sabbath (the time between sundown on Friday and sundown on Saturday). The school also adheres to Seventh-day Adventist principles in all other areas, including diet; all meals served in the campus cafeteria are vegetarian.

Academics

Walla Walla University offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs. Students can enroll in online courses through the distance-learning department; however, the school encourages students to take classes in the traditional classroom format so they can have better opportunities to communicate with instructors and peers.

The school's Teaching Learning Center offers peer tutoring, disability support, learning style evaluations and light sensitivity screenings. Additionally, freshmen are assigned a mentor who helps ease the transition into college life. Students report that their grade point averages increased as a result of the Freshmen Mentor Program, and it also improves the chances of students remaining in college. A $100 fee is assessed each quarter of the freshman year for this program.

Walla Walla University offers the opportunity to have a mission experience through the Student Missions program. A student missionary can travel to other parts of the world or stay within the U.S. Student missionaries have worked as teachers, hospital volunteers, orphanage assistants and Bible workers.

Admissions

A high school diploma with at least a 2.5 GPA or a GED is required to gain entry into Walla Walla University. Although a specific set of secondary courses and credits are required for all who apply, the university recommended that prospective freshmen go beyond the required math and science credits and also take social studies and a foreign language. Additional admission requirements include acceptable ACT/SAT scores and a personal reference. To apply, applicants complete the application online and then mail in transcripts/GED documentation, test scores and references.

If the person is applying to a graduate program, she or he will need to complete the online graduate application or mail it in. These applicants must also submit official transcripts indicating undergraduate work, GRE results, an essay about goals and 3 reference letters.

In the fall of 2010, 626 students applied to Walla Walla University, and nearly 90% of those applicants were accepted. About 95% of the undergraduates attended full-time, and 51% of undergraduates were female. Additionally, 74% of undergraduates were white, and the next largest racial categories were Hispanic (11%) and Asian (4%).

Tuition and Financial Aid

In the 2010-2011 school year, annual tuition costs for Walla Walla University undergraduate students were almost $23,900, plus an additional $1,068 for books and supplies. Living expenses for students living on-campus were about $5,595 for room and board and an additional $3,225 for other living expenses.

To receive any federal aid toward education costs, a student must submit a FAFSA form. However, the university also offers financial aid, but students must submit the WWU financial aid application to be considered. WWU awards merit-based scholarships and need-based grants; prospective students can use the scholarship calculator on the university's website to determine how much aid they may be eligible for. About 80% of applicants qualify for aid, and an average of about $22,000 per year is awarded to qualifying students.

WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY QUICK FACTS
School Type	4-year, private, not-for-profit**
Degrees Offered	Associate's, bachelor's, master's**
Religious Affiliation	Seventh-day Adventists*
Academic Calendar	Quarters*
School Setting	Remote town**
Student Body	1,831 (1,602 undergraduate)**
Student Housing	On-campus housing (separate men's and women's residences) and apartments
ACADEMICS
Student-Faculty Ratio	13 to 1**
Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients)	In 2010-2011: Associate's: business/commerce (5), Bachelor's: nursing (60), Master's: social work (115)**
Undergraduate Graduation Rates	4-year: 21%, 6-year: 49% (for students beginning in fall 2005)**
ADMISSIONS
Admission Rate	In 2010: 89%**
Entering Class Size	In 2010: 299**
First-Year Retention Rates	In 2011: 76% (full-time students)**
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
Tuition	$23,898 per year (2011-2012)
Financial Aid Sources Available (Percent of Students Receiving it)	In 2010-2011 for first-year undergraduates: federal grants (35%), state and local grants and scholarships (10%), institutional grants and scholarships (98%), student loans (67%)**
Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid	In 2010-2011 for first-time undergraduates: 99%

Sources: *Walla Walla University, **National Center for Education Statistics.

School Contact Information

Address: Walla Walla University Admissions Office, 204 South College Avenue, College Place, WA 99324
Phone: (800) 541-8900
Website: www.wallawalla.edu