SmartAsset has ranked Walla Walla University as the third overall best value university and the second-best university for student living costs in the state of Washington for 2024.
The study compared colleges and universities across Washington based on general financial factors, including tuition, living expenses, scholarships awarded, student retention rate and starting salary for new graduates. Each factor is then compared and weighed against one another to create an index score, ranking schools on where students can get the best return on their investment in higher education.
In the 2023–2024 academic year, almost 95% of WWU students qualified to receive scholarships, averaging $28,336 per student each year. By awarding $40.8 million in financial aid, WWU significantly lowered students’ annual out-of-pocket costs, with students only paying an average of $9,820 per year.
Gayla Rogers, WWU student financial services director, said, “WWU is committed to making higher education accessible and affordable for all students. Our location in southeast Washington provides a unique opportunity to better obtain this goal. We are grateful for this recognition of our commitment to supporting students in both their academic and personal goals.”
To learn more about the methods used to obtain these ranks, go to SmartAsset.com. For more information on financial aid at WWU, visit wallawalla.edu/financial-aid.
