Whitman College vs Walla Walla University: which has better ROI?
Whitman College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $133,252 in 6.9 years versus 6.9 years at Walla Walla University, on median earnings of $67,589 vs $61,885 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Whitman College | Walla Walla University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,313 | $23,329 |
| Total net cost | $133,252 | $93,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,589 | $61,885 |
| Median debt | $18,437 | $26,842 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $251,328 | $177,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Whitman College or Walla Walla University?
Walla Walla University, at $23,329 a year after aid versus $33,313 — a gap of $9,984 a year, or $39,936 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Whitman College or Walla Walla University graduates earn more?
Whitman College graduates report a median $67,589 ten years after entry, $5,704 more than the $61,885 at Walla Walla University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Whitman College or Walla Walla University?
Whitman College: its completers carry a median $18,437 in federal loans versus $26,842 at Walla Walla University, a difference of $8,405. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Whitman College, against 60% at Walla Walla University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.