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The Perfect College Town

We Love Living in Walla Walla

Big skies. Blue mountains. Friendly faces. Fun around every corner. Living in a cozy college town is an adventure. Whitman students, faculty and staff enjoy Walla Walla for its easy access to the outdoors, its welcoming and big-hearted personality, and its vibrant local culture. Take a closer look at the home of one of the best liberal arts colleges in the Northwest.

Walla Walla Is a Perfect Place to …

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Get Involved

Walla Walla has endless opportunities to break out of the campus bubble—and Whitman’s ties to the community run deep. You’ll see Whitman faces volunteering in public schools, consulting with local nonprofits, leading local climate activism, performing with arts organizations and much more. Your talents and voice will be valued here.

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Get Outside

Walla Walla is rich with parks, hiking and biking trails, lakes and streams, and wildlife preserves. Plus campus is just a short drive away from the beautiful Blue Mountains, Bluewood Ski Resort, the Columbia and Snake rivers, and breathtaking Palouse Falls. Into kayaking? Climbing? Snowboarding? Stargazing? Get ready to soak up all nature has to offer here.

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Get a Northwest Experience

There’s something special about the Pacific Northwest. It’s filled with friendly, earnest people who genuinely care about making the world a better place. It’s a natural home for people who love the outdoors and are passionate about the environment. And it’s a place that values diversity—of resources, people, ideas and experiences.

Wish You Were Here

Planning a visit to campus? It’s the perfect opportunity to see firsthand all that Whitman and Walla Walla have to offer. Don’t miss our top tips on planning your visit.

Staff Highlight
Ryan B., Creative Strategy & Operations

Walla Walla is a special place to call home. I love the vibrant art and music community and friendly, hometown vibes—and the beautiful surroundings become your backyard. It’s a place where you can truly savor life’s simple pleasures and find inspiration in every season (without city traffic!).”

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Discover Walla Walla

Whitman students, faculty and staff come from all over the world to be part of one the top colleges in Washington. Here are a few reasons they choose call it home:

Whitman college students walking outdoors

Outdoors

Whitman’s Outdoor Program runs student trips most weekends throughout the school year—and rents equipment like tents, kayaks, skis and bikes to help anyone access the outdoors. Students, faculty and staff get special rates on equipment rentals, and every student automatically receives funds to help pay for trips and equipment.

whitman college students eating downtown

Downtown

Whitman’s central location is just steps from Walla Walla’s charming downtown. Drop by for coffee and conversation, browse the independent bookstores and fun shops, take in live music, or wander the Saturday farmers market.

Walla Walla Symphony playing at Whitman College's Cordiner Hall

Music

Whatever your jam, you’ll find live music around every corner in Walla Walla. Hear local bands perform downtown or in the vineyards. Soak up the classical beauty of the Walla Walla Symphony at Cordiner Hall. Or celebrate fun music events like the annual Guitar Festival or the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival.

Great food in downtown walla walla

Food

From gourmet restaurants featuring locally sourced ingredients to fast and friendly food trucks, Walla Walla’s food scene will hit the spot. And the bustling breweries and beautiful vineyards have made Walla Walla a flourishing tourist destination, often voted one of the best wine towns in America.

Sculpture at a downtown Walla Walla location

Arts

Walla Walla is an art lover’s dream. You can stroll through Walla Walla’s downtown galleries and tasting rooms for First Friday Art Tours, enjoy ArtWalla’s Artist Pop-Ups or visit the world-renowned Walla Walla Foundry. If performance is more your thing, you can take in dance, comedy, film, drama, music and more at local venues like the Gesa Power House Theatre.

Whitman College students working with leaders at local organizations

Connections

Whitman’s Community Fellow Program and the Career and Community Engagement Center help connect students with local nonprofit or public organizations for mentoring, consulting and internships. And Whitman faculty often collaborate with Walla Walla’s other institutions of higher education, local nonprofit and arts organizations, the state penitentiary, and tribal governments for unique teaching and learning opportunities.

whitman college students volunteering

Volunteering

Whitman’s Community Engagement Programs connect students with rewarding opportunities like Adopt-A-Grandparent, the Food Justice Project and the Walla Walla Stream Team. And communitywide service events like the Tri-College Community Day get everyone involved in making Walla Walla an amazing place to live.

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History

Walla Walla’s fascinating past can be seen everywhere—from the historic architecture downtown to the array of nearby museums and historic sites, like the Fort Walla Walla Museum, Frenchtown Historic Site, and Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. And Whitman’s close ties with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation bring rich collaboration and learning opportunities about the area’s past and present to campus.

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Inclusivity

Walla Walla is a place that values originality—one-of-kind experiences and one-of-a-kind people. On campus or around town, you’ll find a friendly, supportive atmosphere that allows you to pursue your passions, express yourself fully and experience a genuine sense of belonging.

Stories

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Janning Quoted in Article About How Taylor Swift Communicates With Her Fans

Janning Quoted in Article About How Taylor Swift Communicates With Her Fans

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President Bolton Shares Insights on Higher Education in Seattle Magazine

President Bolton Shares Insights on Higher Education in Seattle Magazine

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Salma Anguiano ’22 Named First Yenching  Scholar from Whitman College

Salma Anguiano ’22 Named First Yenching Scholar from Whitman College

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Whitman College Receives STARS Silver Rating for Sustainability Achievements

Whitman College Receives STARS Silver Rating for Sustainability Achievements

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Accelerated Learning, Accelerated Careers

Accelerated Learning, Accelerated Careers

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Whitman College Appoints New Chief of Staff

Whitman College Appoints New Chief of Staff

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Alum Publishes Article on Affordable Housing Crisis

Alum Publishes Article on Affordable Housing Crisis

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Blues Athletes Bring Home Academic Awards in All Varsity Sports

Blues Athletes Bring Home Academic Awards in All Varsity Sports

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Faculty-Led Summer Chinese Language Studies Resumes with Inaugural Program in Taiwan

Faculty-Led Summer Chinese Language Studies Resumes with Inaugural Program in Taiwan

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Local Middle School Teacher and Whitman Alum Beth Clearman ’90 Featured in New York Times Article

Local Middle School Teacher and Whitman Alum Beth Clearman ’90 Featured in New York Times Article

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It’s Move-In Day at Whitman College!

It’s Move-In Day at Whitman College!

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‘This Is a Moment of High Stakes’

‘This Is a Moment of High Stakes’

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Giving Empathy a Leading Role

Giving Empathy a Leading Role

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Q&A: Fast 5 With the Director of Sports Performance

Q&A: Fast 5 With the Director of Sports Performance

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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists publishes Shampa Biswas’s ‘Oppenheimer’ Op-Ed

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists publishes Shampa Biswas’s ‘Oppenheimer’ Op-Ed

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Whitman College Partners with The Posse Foundation to Recruit Students

Whitman College Partners with The Posse Foundation to Recruit Students

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Grants & Fellowships Give Students Global Opportunities

Grants & Fellowships Give Students Global Opportunities

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Whitman Alumna’s Gift Will Provide Housing Support for Faculty & Staff

Whitman Alumna’s Gift Will Provide Housing Support for Faculty & Staff

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Rooted in Respect: Words of Wisdom from Amber Ebarb ’03

Rooted in Respect: Words of Wisdom from Amber Ebarb ’03

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Professor Brit Moss Nurtures a Love of Research

Professor Brit Moss Nurtures a Love of Research

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Three Whitties Named 2023 NSF Fellows

Three Whitties Named 2023 NSF Fellows

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Spain Bound! Alex Feller ’22 Awarded Fulbright Scholarship

Spain Bound! Alex Feller ’22 Awarded Fulbright Scholarship

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True Chemistry: How Aaron Lefohn ’97 Found His Calling in Tech

True Chemistry: How Aaron Lefohn ’97 Found His Calling in Tech

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Whitman College Highlighted in The New York Times for Its Financial Aid Transparency

Whitman College Highlighted in The New York Times for Its Financial Aid Transparency

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A Winding Path to Whitman

A Winding Path to Whitman

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Whitman Creates New Ethics & Society Major

Whitman Creates New Ethics & Society Major

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Construction Underway for Baseball Clubhouse at Borleske Stadium

Construction Underway for Baseball Clubhouse at Borleske Stadium

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Nishtha Rajbhandari ’24 Awarded Projects for Peace Grant

Nishtha Rajbhandari ’24 Awarded Projects for Peace Grant

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2023 Senior Thesis Art Show Looks ‘Through It All’

2023 Senior Thesis Art Show Looks ‘Through It All’

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Coming Together for Whitman’s 137th Commencement

Coming Together for Whitman’s 137th Commencement

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Take The Next Step

Our Admission team is excited to show prospective students all the opportunities that await them at Whitman—including top academics, career coaching and a caring community that truly wants them to thrive.

Not ready yet? Contact us to request more information.

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