This is the life of the curious mind.
At Warren Wilson College, we believe the world needs curiosity.
Curiosity is a defining requirement for being relevant, and the push that gets the world moving in the right direction. And unlike any other college, Warren Wilson fosters your curiosity. This is a place where future Fulbright scholars pour concrete for campus building projects. Where students are equally at home running rapids on the French Broad River as they are walking the streets of Istanbul. Warren Wilson is for people who want an active educational and intellectual experience. We’re for people who see learning as a way to be a better human being. And with our deep, proven commitment to a just, equitable, and sustainable world, we’re for people who understand that the life we choose influences everyone and everything.
Our Philosophy. Think Deeply. Care Fiercely. Work Hard. The world needs curiously insightful, experienced, and capable individuals. We’re ready to help you be one. Our experiential academic program gives you breadth through a time-honored liberal arts core and depth through specialization in a combination of majors, concentrations, and minors. And with over a thousand acres of farm, forests, mountains, and streams right here on campus, your classrooms and laboratories are not limited to those with walls.
We build on your academic experiences by integrating on-campus work and community engagement. Your work experience sets you apart when you’re applying for jobs—you’ll already have a resume full of accomplishments. And community engagement gives you more than just marketable skills— you are empowered to advocate for causes you care about and to improve communities locally and globally. Our students can and do change the world. When you graduate, you won’t say you learned how to do it. You will say you’ve done it.
Areas of Study. MAJORS & CONCENTRATIONS Art - Art History - Painting & Drawing - Photography & Media Arts - Printmaking & Bookforms - Sculpture & Ceramics Biochemistry Biology Business - Sustainable Business (pending approval) Chemistry Conservation Biology Creative Writing English - Theatre & English - English & Creative Writing - English Literature Environmental Studies - Conservation & Society - Ecological Forestry - Environmental Education - Environmental Policy & Justice - Sustainable Agriculture - Water & Earth Resources Expressive Arts Therapy - Art Therapy - Music Therapy - General Global Studies - Culture, Power & Place - Environment & Society - Peace & Social Justice - The Local & the Global History & Political Science - History - Political Science - Public Policy Integrative Studies Mathematics Music - General - Traditional Outdoor Leadership Philosophy - Critical Theory & Social Justice Psychology - Early Childhood Social Work Sociology & Anthropology - Archaeology - Cultural Anthropology - Gender & Women’s Studies - Sociology
MINORS
SPECIAL ADVISING AREAS
Africana Studies Art Art History Biology Business Chemistry Craft Creative Writing Data Science Economics Education - Early Childhood & Elementary - Middle Grades & High School English Environmental Studies Expressive Arts Therapy Gender & Women’s Studies Global Studies - Appalachian Studies - Applied Geospatial Technology - Spanish Language in Context History & Political Science Interfaith Leadership Mathematics Music - General - Traditional Neuroscience Outdoor Leadership Peace & Justice Studies Philosophy Physics Psychology Science Communication Sociology & Anthropology Theatre
Pre-International Engagement & Non-Governmental Service Pre-Law Pre-Medical & Pre-Allied Health Pre-Veterinary Medicine
GRADUATE PROGRAMS Master of Arts in Critical Craft Studies Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The residential side of Warren Wilson College's campus, overlooking the athletic fields toward the Craggy Mountains.
Academics. YOU’LL BE READY. Our top-tier academic program has a liberal arts foundation. Breadth through our general education curriculum, focus through your major, and unfettered exploration through electives help you become a thinker capable of solving problems in any environment. You’ll mature as a writer, communicator, and leader. You’ll choose from 20 majors, 33 minors, and 33 concentrations in everything from Sculpture and Ceramics to Conservation Biology. You’ll complete groundbreaking research or original creative work for your capstone experience. You’ll graduate with the academic chops for your next step, whether it’s law school at Harvard (like Juliana Ratner ’08) or a NASA fellowship (like Daniel Lucas ’18).
A TRUE ADVANTAGE. More than 60% of Warren Wilson students plan to attend graduate or professional school. It’s why we work with you from your first year to prepare you for what comes next, be it med school, an MFA program, vet school, business school, or law school. In addition, we cultivate relationships with graduate programs that provide real advantages, including guaranteed acceptance, scholarship consideration, and more. Some of our Advantage Program partners include: Vermont Law School Bard College Duke University University of North Carolina at Asheville
BEYOND BOOKS. BEYOND CLASSROOMS. Here, education happens all over campus and all over the world. Ecology classes build campus wetlands. Students backpack through wilderness regions in Bolivia and Nepal to conduct field research. Social Work students intern with community agencies such as Children First.
WANT TO SEE THE WORLD? Study Abroad opportunities range from a few weeks to a year, so you’ll have plenty of ways to see the world. Our students have spent semesters and full years studying in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. Too long? We also offer plenty of short-term Study Abroad courses to dozens of countries including Tanzania, Indonesia, Cuba, Latvia, Ireland, and more.
Work. “Forestry Crew has given me the confidence to reach for goals I never would have thought possible and to chisel my leadership skills— which for me means stepping up and stepping back as appropriate with patience, maturity, and compassion.” – Larissa Robinov ’17, a Biochemistry major who worked for NASA after graduation
WORK. LEARNING. Warren Wilson is one of only a handful of federally recognized work colleges in the nation, where all students must work on campus to graduate. You’ll work at least 10 hours a week with one of our work crews, developing skills that will distinguish you when you’re applying for jobs or graduate school. Work crews are diverse, ranging from our Electrical Services Crew to our Media Crew. And our work learning outcomes include integrity, communication, analytical thinking, and initiative. These are, of course, the very things employers look for most when hiring.
BE A SPECIALIST. (OR A GENERALIST). The Work Program empowers you to complement your studies with professional experiences. Are you majoring in Creative Writing? Tutor and wordsmith on our Writing Studio Crew. Want to be a Pre-Vet Biology major? Care for cows, pigs, and sheep on our Farm Crew. Or use the Work Program to step outside your major into a different area of interest. Majoring in Business, and you want to start an outdoor adventure camp? Plan weekend kayaking and rock climbing trips on our Outdoor Programs Crew.
“I love how intellectually demanding my work on Chemistry Crew is, how challenging it is to work behind the scenes making solutions and setting up experiments, and how rewarding it is to deepen my understanding as I tutor other students. My crew gives me graduate-level skills and knowledge.”– Rebecca Hirsch ’18, Chemistry major
THE WORK PROGRAM SUPPORTS YOU IN YOUR GOALS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE.
YOU’LL WORK AT LEAST 10 HOURS A WEEK WITH AN ASSIGNED WORK CREW AND EARN $2,175 OR MORE TOWARD THE COST OF TUITION EVERY YEAR.
92% of Warren Wilson alumni have a paying job within 6 months of graduation (national average: 72%). 16% of our alumni go immediately into service work like The Peace Corps or AmeriCorps (nationally: 2.4%).
50% of our alumni have a job lined up before they graduate (national average: 33%). 91% of Warren Wilson alumni report that their first job after college was work they found meaningful (63% national average).
Community Engagement. SERVE WHILE LEARNING. You don’t have to wait to make a difference. At Warren Wilson College, you’ll be a catalyst for change immediately. Community engagement isn’t optional at Warren Wilson. It’s required. Before you even start classes, you’ll participate in Service Day during Orientation. And from your First-Year Seminar onward, many of your courses will integrate service learning. Both inside the classroom and out in our community, you’ll delve deeply into issues you’re passionate about while fulfilling your Community Engagement Commitment. You will develop a nuanced understanding of our most pressing and complicated social and environmental issues as you explore creative solutions and take meaningful action alongside dedicated faculty, staff, and peers. When you graduate, you won’t just say you want to change the world. You will have the deep confidence that comes with having already changed it.
Newsweek ranked our service program #3 on its nationwide list of “Most Service-Oriented” colleges and universities.
We recently ranked #9 among colleges and universities nationwide by U.S. News & World Report in the service-learning category.
Washington Monthly ranked us #6 nationally for “Community Service.”
Princeton Review recently ranked us #6 for “Students Most Engaged in Community Service.”
COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 28%, 69% OF WARREN WILSON COLLEGE ALUMNI PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE OFTEN OR VERY OFTEN.
GO BEYOND SERVICE HOURS. Commitments: You will form ongoing relationships with community partners. Service-learning courses: You may study Social Work with incarcerated women in our InsideOut Program or solve a threat to local biodiversity in Conservation Biology class. Break trips: Work with Lakota Oglala Sioux in South Dakota, build houses in a coal mining community in West Virginia, or work with undocumented immigrants in Georgia. These in-depth trips are designed and run by students. Internships: Ensure that sea turtle hatchlings in Florida reach the ocean with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or work with children in the foster care system here in Asheville. Activism: Recently, students have lobbied for climate action in Washington, DC, and marched with Black Lives Matter in Ferguson, MO.
The Warren Wilson College campus, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Ready for the Future. FIND YOUR WAY. What will you choose from the diverse array of opportunities available at Warren Wilson College? The possible combinations are infinite. We want to help you make the most of your time here. That’s why you’ll have an Integrated Advising Coach in addition to your faculty Academic Advisor. Your coach will help you to pair your academic plan with complementary experiences: hands-on community engagement, work crews, research, professional internships, study abroad, and more.
BUILD YOUR DREAM. Integrated Advising benefits both students who know where they want to go and students who are still deciding. Your Coach will personalize your journey and help you bring together the right experiences to become who you want to be. Your Integrated Advising Coach will help you build an impressive portfolio and resume to show the value of your Warren Wilson experiences. They’ll be an excellent reference, too. Your Coach makes sure you’re ready for whatever step comes next, whether it’s graduate school, a new job, travel, or nonprofit service. When you graduate, you will be personally and professionally ready to make your meaningful impact on the world.
THE CENTER FOR INTEGRATED ADVISING & CAREERS. The Center for Integrated Advising & Careers holds the resources you need to support your goals and make the most of your time at Warren Wilson: - Integrated Advising Coaches - Career & resume advising - Internship advising - Tutors, peer coaches & study labs - Academic support counseling - Accommodation plans - Textbook exchange - Career closet—professional attire - And other services
“My experiences at Warren Wilson have been incredibly diverse. And I am so grateful that the fact that I am a Global Studies major doesn’t keep me from being the Cattle Boss. That is a liberal arts education! While I was in Mexico, I got to see the convergence of my different passions at Wilson come together in a beautiful way. And as I leave Wilson, I know that I am not limited. I am fully equipped to think critically.”– Anne Clare Courtway ’18, now working for Heifer International
You Don’t Have to Choose. Stunning Mountain Views. And City Culture. Warren Wilson College is next to Asheville, North Carolina, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains—the most biodiverse non-tropical region in the Western Hemisphere. Our mountain campus will be your classroom, laboratory, and studio. Your playground and workplace. Your solace and inspiration. Your home. Paddle the Swannanoa River, bike Jones Mountain, or hike miles of trails, all on campus. Find salamanders in Bull Creek. Watch the sun set over Mount Pisgah from Dogwood Pasture. Research endangered species in our forests or learn sustainable agriculture firsthand on our student-run farm and garden. Discuss history in a landscape drenched in it. Create within this stunning setting—compose music or poetry, paint, blacksmith, weave, or sculpt. We are just 10 minutes’ drive to downtown Asheville. Eat at world-class restaurants, listen to internationally famous musicians, and immerse yourself in the vibrant arts community. Explore clubs, coffee houses, funky shops, craft studios, theatres and venues, galleries, craft breweries, festivals, independent bookstores, organic markets, and curious museums—many of which are alumni owned.
ASHEVILLE: #1 Destination, 2017 – Lonely Planet “One of the South’s hippest hangouts” – USA Today “Top 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S.A.” – Money magazine Top 10 “Best Outside Towns” – Outside magazine “Top 25 Arts Destinations in the U.S.” – American Style magazine “Most vegetarian-friendly” – PETA
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what your major is, the land touches everyone and contributes to each student’s learning while they are here.” – Asher Wright ’08, Farm Manager at Hickory Nut Gap Farm
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Amusements Our clubs and activities are diverse. Try aerial silks, fire spinning, acrobatics, or yoga. Join a jam session, poetry slam, movie showing, book club, game competition, or craft night.
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Good Fit 90% of students live on our deliberately residential campus. From suite-style residences to individual rooms (and options in between), we have perfect housing for you.
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Meaningful In our LEED Platinum certified EcoDorm, students are dedicated to sustainable living. Other themed residence options include Outdoor Adventure, Quiet Living, and Alliance Floors for LGBTQIA+ students.
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Adventures Our Outdoor Programs Crew provides adventure trips and workshops. Climb our Alpine Tower on campus or learn backwoods survival and orienteering. Backpack, ski, hang glide, cave, and more on weekends.
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Community When you ask students about Warren Wilson College’s greatest strengths, you’ll hear one word again and again: “community.” We’re proud of our tight-knit and supportive campus.
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Athletics Our athletes are national champions. We have varsity basketball, soccer, mountain biking, cyclo-cross, road cycling, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, and cross-country, along with a variety of club sports and intramurals.
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We Invest in You. At Warren Wilson, we’re committed to providing an affordable education to all students. 100% of residential students receive over $2,000 per year toward their tuition through their Work Grant. Merit scholarships (based on the overall strength of your application) are as high as $21,000 per year. We also offer additional need-based grants. All North Carolina undergraduate students eligible for federal or state need-based aid attend Warren Wilson tuition-free under our NC Free Tuition Plan. Our Milepost One program awards up to 25 additional full-tuition scholarships to students with total family income levels equal to or below $125,000 per year. Our bottom line? We’ll work closely with you to manage your bottom line.
ONE OF OUR MOST REVERED TRADITIONS IS THE AWARDING OF A SAPLING TO EACH GRADUATING SENIOR TO REPRESENT NEW BEGINNINGS. FOR SENIORS WHO CAN’T TAKE THEIR TREE WITH THEM, WE PLANT IT ON CAMPUS IN THEIR HONOR.
A BEST BUY. The Fiske Guide to Colleges has named Warren Wilson College one of only 20 “Best Buy” colleges in the nation for several years running.
Students' coats and backpacks line the Farm Office at the beginning of a work shift.
Have We Piqued Your Curiosity? HOW TO APPLY. You can apply on our website warren-wilson.edu.
PROUDLY TEST-OPTIONAL. Warren Wilson is proudly test-optional, which means you can submit your ACT or SAT scores. Or not.
SEEING IS BELIEVING. To schedule a visit, go to our website: warren-wilson.edu and click “Visit.” Or call us anytime at 800.934.3536.
APPLICATION DEADLINES EARLY DECISION (BINDING): November 1. Students are notified by December 1 and agree to attend if accepted. Deposits are due January 15. EARLY ACTION: November 15. Students receive their admission decision in December. Deposits are due by May 1.
REGULAR DECISION: Rolling Admissions. Regular Decision applicants are notified on a rolling basis. Deposits are due on May 1.
Profile STUDENT BODY • 825 • Percent of students living on campus: 90% • Number of states: 45 • Number of countries: 15 • Students from North Carolina: 24%
ACADEMICS • Average class size: 10 • Average SAT CR: 594 (test scores optional) • Average SAT M: 539 (test scores optional) • Average ACT: 25 (test scores optional) • Average H.S. GPA: 3.5 • Percent of full-time faculty with a doctorate or other terminal degree: 93% • Student-faculty ratio: 10:1
CAMPUS • Situated on 1,140 acres • 300-acre working farm • 5 acres of organically-managed garden and orchards • 600 acres of forest • 16 miles of hiking trails
This book was printed on an eco-friendly press that cures solvent-free inks instantly with a single energy-efficient H-UV lamp, producing zero VOC emissions, less heat, zero ozone, and 60% less CO2 emissions than a standard UV press, while also using less energy and less paper. In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Warren Wilson College is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, familial status, sexual orientation, and reprisal.
Warren Wilson College
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and Master of Fine Arts degrees.
800-934-3536 admit@warren-wilson.edu warren-wilson.edu
P.O. Box 9000 Asheville, NC 28815-9000