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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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Professional photograph of Alvaro Santana-Acuna

The New York Times Publishes Santana-Acuña Essay on García Márquez's Last Novel

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Journalist Cecilia Kang ’94

Journalist Cecilia Kang ’94 Announced as Speaker for 138th Commencement

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3-D Model renderings of the new buildings involving the Jr./Sr. Housing Project.

New Place to Call Home: Investing in a Major Addition to Campus

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Whitman College's orchestra performing in the Hall of Music.

Whitman Orchestra Heads to Portland

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Homecoming for Award-Winning Authors: Three Alums Return for Whitman’s Visiting Writer Reading Series

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Concert in Reid Campus Center for P&P 2024

Sounds of the People & the PNW Superheroes Wrap Up P&P Week With Free Concert

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Image of Linda Sarsour presenting in Reid Campus Center.

Whitman’s 2024 Power & Privilege Symposium Raises Diverse Voices and Invites Deep Discussion

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Dalia Biswas

Harnessing the Power of Data in the Sciences

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Wanjiru Kamau Rutenberg

Changing the World & Building Community Among Black Women Leaders

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Pavel Blogav

Professor Pavel Blagov Nurtures Student Research in Whitman’s Personality Lab

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Erica Goad, wearing a helmet inside a helicopter.

Truman Scholarship Opens Door to a Life of Service

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Madeline Senter

Student Researcher Finds The Joy of Discovery

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Cat Posey

History of a Tech Superwoman with Cat Posey

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Collage of vintage photographs.

Research Project Leads to Groundbreaking Photo Archives

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Baker Weilert-Pekar

Q&A: Fast 5 With Whitman’s Director of Debate & Forensics

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Award-winning poet Derrick Austin.

Visiting Writers Series Welcomes Derrick Austin

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Two students pose on a climbing wall with an issue of Whitman Outdoor Journal.

Meet the Whitties Behind The Whitman Outdoor Journal

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Personality Laboratory sign

What Happens in Whitman’s Personality Lab?

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Katie Krummeck wears a black and white striped referee shirt as she leads a group of educators in an activity involving many colored post-it notes, pens and other items

Whitman Receives Gift to Bring Designer-in-Residence for New Human-Centered Design Concentration

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Alum Roger Amerman Brings Native American Heritage to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Classroom

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Whitman College Names New Provost and Dean of the Faculty

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Erin Pahlke

Pahlke Discusses Parenting and Racism in Atlanta Black Star

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Three first-year students are playing a handmade board game.

Whitman’s First Ever Game Expo Showcases Student Learning

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First responders de-stressing at the Sheehan Gallery

First Responders Destress at Sheehan Gallery Exhibit

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Pasena-Littlesky as the first Miss Pášx̣apa

Pášx̣apa Powwow Celebrates Culture and Collaboration

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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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