Admission
Whitman’s admission process is selective to assure a student body with excellence in both academic and
extracurricular pursuits and with varied backgrounds. To achieve this balance, the Admission Committee evaluates
scholastic records, the quality of written expression, test scores, extracurricular activities, and letters of
recommendations. Evidence of motivation, discipline, imagination, creativity, leadership, and maturity also are
considered.
Although most of the entering first-year students graduated in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating
classes, there are no arbitrary entrance requirements or quotas. It is recommended that candidates complete four
years of secondary school English and mathematics, three years of laboratory science, and two years each of
history/social sciences and foreign language. The Admission Committee looks for those candidates who take and
excel in advanced level courses.
Whitman College is committed to providing access to an affordable education for as many admitted students as
possible. More than half of current students demonstrate financial need and approximately 90 percent receive some
form of financial aid — scholarships, grants, employment, or loans. All students who need assistance are
encouraged to apply for financial aid.
Whitman College has a strong commitment to the principle of nondiscrimination. In its admission and employment
practices, administration of educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other schooladministered programs, Whitman College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, religion,
age, marital status, national origin, physical disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any
other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Admission Procedures
Fall admission application due dates are November 15 and January 10 for Early Decision applicants; January 15 for
Regular Decision first-year candidates; and March 1 for Regular Decision transfer applicants. Qualified applicants
who file credentials after the Regular Decision deadline dates may be admitted only to the extent that space is
available.
Notification dates for admission are as follows: by December 20 for Early Decision I, February 10 for Early
Decision II, April 1 for Regular Decision candidates, and April 20 for Regular Decision transfer candidates.
The transfer application deadline for spring semester is November 1. The notification date is by December 1.
Early Decision
Early Decision is an option for candidates who have selected Whitman as a top choice college. Some students reach
this decision early in the college search process. Others take more time to consider a variety of colleges. Whitman,
therefore, conducts the Early Decision process in two rounds. The first-round deadline is November 15; the secondround deadline is January 10. Candidates who are admitted Early Decision agree to withdraw their applications from
other colleges and universities and notify them of their intention to attend Whitman.
Applications for Admission
Whitman participates with a national group of more than 1,000 colleges that encourages the use of the Common
App. The purpose of a Common App is to reduce repetition in completing forms when filing applications to several
selective colleges. A student may pay application fees and submit the Common App online to multiple colleges.
Admission Credentials
First-Year Students
Students applying for first-year standing must submit the following credentials:
I. The Common App.
II. An official transcript of the secondary school record.
III. A School Report completed by the applicant’s secondary school counselor.
IV. A recommendation letter from a secondary school teacher or counselor.
V. A nonrefundable application fee of $50, remittance made payable to Whitman College. (Using guidelines
distributed by the College Board for test fee waivers, applicants suffering financial hardship may have this
fee waived by written request substantiated by a counselor or principal.) This fee will also be waived for
applicants who submit by December 1.
VI. Optional: Scores on either the SAT, or the ACT.
a) Whitman’s Test-Optional policy allows candidates to choose whether or not they would like
to submit an SAT or ACT score for review in the admission process.
b) Early Decision candidates who plan to submit test scores should take one of the tests no later
than October (Early Decision I) of the senior year in order that score reports may reach the
Office of Admission by November 15. (Scores from the November and December test dates
may be submitted for Early Decision II applicants.)
c) Regular Decision candidates who plan to submit test scores should take one of tests no later
than December in the senior year in order that score reports may reach the Office of
Admission by January 15.
VII. Early Decision applicants must submit their Early Decision Agreement, which is available via the
Common Application.
Transfer Students
Students applying for transfer standing must submit the following credentials:
I. The Common App for Transfer
II. Official Transcripts from each college or university attended.
III. The College Report Form available as part of the Common Application for transfer students.
IV. An academic recommendation from a college instructor or high school teacher.
V. Optional: Scores on either SAT or the ACT.
International Students
International students (students who are not U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, green card holders, or refugees)
must submit the credentials listed above for first-year or transfer applicants with the following additions:
I. An official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International
English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test (DET). A TOEFL score of 85 is
required. The minimum IELTS score required is 7.0. The minimum Duolingo score is 110. The TOEFL
OR IELTS can be waived for international applicants whose first language is English or if the primary
language of instruction at the secondary school attended has been English.
II. To apply for financial aid, international students must complete and submit the Whitman International
Student Financial Aid Application by the deadline for the admission application.
Admission Provisions
The college requires final transcripts of all high school and college work. Prior to enrollment, a first-year student
must submit a high school transcript or equivalent academic credential demonstrating completion of a high school
degree.
Space in a college residence hall is assured automatically with admission for all first-year students. A residence life
questionnaire will be sent to candidates with the offer of admission.
An enrollment deposit of $300 is required to reserve a student’s place in the class. The deposit payment deadlines
are below:
Early Decision I candidates January 15
Early Decision II candidates February 15
Regular Decision First-Year admission candidates by May 1.
Fall semester transfer students May 20
Spring semester transfer students December 10.
When late applicants are admitted on a “space available basis,” the deposit is due by the date, which is
stipulated in the letter of admission.
Admission may be deferred for up to one full academic year, but the deposit must be paid by the date stated in the
letter of admission and is forfeited if the student chooses not to enroll.
The $300 enrollment deposit is held in reserve by the college for the student. This deposit is returned upon
graduation or withdrawal from Whitman if there are no unpaid charges remaining on the student’s account (see
“Deposit” in the Charges section). Prior to the refund of the deposit, students with federal loans must have an exit
interview with the Student Loans Manager.
Nondegree-seeking Students
A person may apply through the Office of Admission to attend Whitman as a nondegree-seeking student if they wish
to take certain courses but not pursue a degree program. Nondegree-seeking students register on a space-available
basis and must secure written permission from the professor after the first day of the semester. If a nondegreeseeking student wishes at any time to become a regular student (i.e., pursue a degree program), they must file all
application credentials for consideration by the Admission Committee (see also “Nondegree-seeking students” under
Classification of Students, and under Tuition).
Auditors
Community members admitted to Whitman College for the purpose of enrolling in a class for no grade/credit.
Community members work with the Registrar to enroll in a course and are required to pay the Auditor’s
Tuition as indicated in the tuition section.
The college will keep a permanent record of all audited work, assigning an “AU” grade with no credit being
awarded for successful completion of an audited course. The Registrar’s Office will maintain oversight of
completion of audited courses and will remove those students who have not met the requirements agreed upon with
the instructor of the course before grades are transcripted.
Veterans
Whitman College’s academic programs of study are approved by the Washington State Achievement Council State
Approving Agency for Veteran’s Education and Training for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational
benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code. The college may allow credit for military service activities which
have educational content to students who present acceptable military records. Such documentation should be
submitted as part of the admission credentials. The Registrar is the veteran’s benefits official for the college.
Whitman College in accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), adopts the following additional
provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33) or
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch.31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the
VA. Whitman will not prevent the student’s enrollment, assess a late penalty fee, require student to secure
alternative or additional funding, deny access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional
facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about
education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website
at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 – Section 103: Public Law 115-407 Section 103 effective
December 31, 2018, requires an educational institution have a policy in place that will allow an individual to attend
or participate in a program of education if the individual provides the school with a “Certificate of Eligibility
(COE)”.
Gateway Program with Walla Walla Community College
The primary purpose of the Gateway Program is to encourage low income and first generation, as well as other
Walla Walla Community College students from diverse backgrounds, to pursue a liberal arts education at Whitman
College.
To participate in the program, students must demonstrate the ability to meet the rigors of academic work at Whitman
College. Students must submit an application to the Whitman Admission Committee and be approved by the
committee for entrance into the program.
Participants enroll in one or two classes at Whitman College after their fourth quarter at Walla Walla Community
College. These participants will then be considered for admission to Whitman College as full-time degree candidates
after successful completion of their sophomore year. Participants complete a reduced class load at Walla Walla
Community College while attending Whitman College during the trial period. The reduced load will be such that the
participant will continue to receive financial aid at Walla Walla Community College. The courses at Whitman will
apply to graduation requirements at both institutions and will be paid for by Whitman College.
If the Whitman Admission Committee finds the Gateway Program participant academically successful at both
colleges, the participant will be given special consideration for admission to Whitman College as a regular degreeseeking transfer student under the provisions outlined in the operating agreement.
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