Outcomes
There are many ways to measure success. Professionally, of course. But what about the importance of living lives with meaning, aligned with our values, that make a difference in our community?
Lives with Meaning
At Warren Wilson, we believe that the best outcomes integrate professional success with authentic, well-lived lives. It’s why we not only look at the traditional markers to measure how we’re preparing our students for the world, but also the non-traditional. Not only how quickly our alumni find jobs, but whether the job was meaningful. Not only whether they were employed, but whether their employment allowed them to continue to grow and learn. Did they get into the graduate school they applied to or travel abroad like they’d dreamed? Did Warren Wilson College prepare them to pursue their dreams?
We think you’ll agree that we’re pretty good at all of that.
Points of Pride
Best South & Green Colleges lists, 2025.
— The Princeton Review
Ranked #2 nationally for “Community Service.”
— Washington Monthly
Best LGBTQ+ Friendly College in the nation.
— Bold.org
Ranked in the top 20 colleges and universities nationwide for service-learning.
— U.S. News & World Report
Named one of only 20 “Best Buy” colleges in the nation for several years running.
— Fiske Guide to Colleges
Employment After Graduation
- 90% of Warren Wilson alumni received their first paying job within the first six months following graduation. (National comparison: 77%)
- 74% of Warren Wilson alumni reported that their first paying job post-graduation allowed them to continue to grow and learn. (National comparison: 66%)
- 71% of our alumni 1 year after graduation reported that their current job is work they find meaningful. (National comparison: 68%)
- 90% of our alumni 1 year after graduation and 94% of those 5 years out indicated that their on-campus employment significantly contributed to their learning and personal development. (National comparison: 66% and 64%)
- 97% of Warren Wilson alumni reported that their participation in the Work Program helped prepare them for their career.
A Science Mind Sparked
A lot of students come to college with strong ideals, but are unsure how to integrate them with their post-college working life, as Omar Barnaby did. For Barnaby, an environmental chemistry course at WWC that combined classroom work with a hands-on trip to the Everglades to perform field work led directly to post-doctoral work at Harvard Medical School and his current position as a principal scientist at Amgen, one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies.
Professional Skills
Critical Thinking. Problem Solving. Professionalism. Work Ethic.
These skills are critical to the workplace but often absent from a traditional college setting. At Warren Wilson, they happen every day, inside and outside the classroom, bolstering your resume and giving you the skills employers seek.
- Critical Thinking: 93% of the Class of 2022 reported that their experience at Warren Wilson significantly contributed to their growth in Critical Thinking. (National comparison: 88%).
- Creative Thinking: 88% of the Class of 2022 reported that their experience at Warren Wilson significantly contributed to their growth in Creative Thinking. (National comparison: 77%)
- Integrative Thinking: 93% of the Class of 2022 reported that their experience at Warren Wilson significantly contributed to their growth in Integrative Thinking. (National comparison: 78%)
- Ethical Reasoning: 83% of the Class of 2022 reported that their experience at Warren Wilson significantly contributed to their growth in Ethical Reasoning. (National comparison: 73%)
Graduate School
Nearly 50% of incoming Warren Wilson students intend to pursue graduate school. Our alumni go on to some of the most prestigious graduate schools in the country, including:
Duke University
Harvard University
New York University
Stanford University
Wake Forest University
Yale University
Engaged in Community
- 81% of alumni 1 year from graduation and 73% of alumni 5 years out report that their experience at Warren Wilson prepared them “quite a bit” or “very much” for social and civic involvement. (National comparison: 56% and 54%)
- 79% of alumni report that their experience at Warren Wilson significantly contributed to their growth in civic engagement. (National comparison: 55%)
- 59% of alumni engage in community service weekly, monthly, or several times a year. (National comparison: 41%)
