Frequently Asked Questions

Application Questions

Is there a fee to apply to Whitworth?

There is no fee to apply to Whitworth. You may apply online for free at www.whitworth.edu/apply.

What is the transfer application deadline?

Deadlines for a fall semester start (September)
Jan. 15: Transfer Early Action I
March 1: Transfer Early Action II
July 1: Transfer Regular Admission

Deadline for a spring semester start (February)
Dec. 1: Transfer Regular Admission

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and it helps to apply as soon as possible. Please contact the admissions office to find out if late applications will be accepted after these deadlines.

What do I need to submit as part of my transfer application to Whitworth University?

All transfer applicants must submit the following materials as part of their application to Whitworth:

Completed online application (www.whitworth.edu/apply)
An unofficial college/university transcript from each college/university you have attended
Optional for U.S. citizens/permanent residents: One letter of recommendation or Academic Recommendation Form, preferably from a professor or counselor telling us of your academic success as a college/university student

Where should I send my application materials?

Your letter of recommendation and/or academic recommendation form, transcript(s) and other application materials may be sent using any of the following methods:

National Clearinghouse, Docufied or another secure document transfer service used by your school
Email: admissions@whitworth.edu
Regular mail:
Whitworth University
Admissions Office
300 W. Hawthorne Road
Spokane, WA 99251
Fax: 509.777.3758

How do I check the status of my application to Whitworth?

To check the status of your application (including a list of received/missing application items from your file), visit whitworth.edu/app-status. If you have further questions, please contact the admissions office at 800.533.4668, 509.777.4786 or admissions@whitworth.edu.

When will I be notified of my admissions decision?

Whitworth reviews applications on a "rolling" basis and begins sending Fall Semester admissions decisions in October, and Spring Semester admissions decisions in June. After all of your application materials are received and processed by the Whitworth Admissions Office, you should receive your admissions decision within three weeks or less (once we have begun sending admissions decisions).

Admissions Questions

What does the admissions office look for in an applicant to Whitworth?

Our primary goal in the admissions process is to identify students who demonstrate the academic promise and personal traits necessary to succeed at Whitworth University.

We take into account the following criteria when reviewing a student's application:

The student's cumulative college grade-point average
The academic rigor of the student's college coursework
Extracurricular activities
Optional for U.S. citizens/permanent residents: Writing sample
Optional for U.S. citizens/permanent residents: Professor/counselor recommendation

What is the minimum GPA a transfer student must have to apply?

We recommend that applicants have at least a 2.5 cumulative college GPA. However, we consider all aspects of a student's application and welcome interested students to apply to Whitworth.

If you have attended more than one college/university, we will combine the institutional college GPAs and calculate your cumulative college GPA, excluding any grades earned from Whitworth University.

If I am taking community college classes while I am in high school, do I apply as a first-year or as a transfer student?

If you take college classes before you receive your high school diploma, you will apply as a first-year student. If you take college classes after you receive your high school diploma (separate from the summer session), you will apply as a transfer student.

Will my credits transfer to Whitworth?

Generally, yes. We will accept college credits from a regionally accredited institution for academic classes 100-level and above, passed with a C or higher. For more information on how college credits transfer, please see our transfer policies.

A maximum of 96 quarter (64 semester) credits are accepted from any combination of regionally accredited two-year institutions. Every student must complete a minimum of 32 credits at Whitworth.

Where can I find printable applications?

Our application is online only, so a printable application is not available on our website. If you have questions about the admissions application, please call the admissions office at 800.533.4668 or 509.777.4786.

I have already been admitted and I want to enroll at Whitworth. What do I need to do?

We're so glad you're planning to join the Whitworth community! A $350 enrollment deposit will reserve your place.

Since the deposit is fully refundable until Aug. 1 (for Fall Term start) or Jan. 1 (for Spring Term start), we recommend that, in order to ensure priority for housing, you submit your deposit as soon as possible, even if you are not completely sure you will attend Whitworth.

You may submit your deposit at www.whitworth.edu/deposit. This will allow you to pay your deposit via a secure website by either credit card or electronic check. You will also need your student I.D. number, which is located in your acceptance packet.

I have VA benefits. Whom should I contact to find out what I'm eligible for?

Please contact Whitworth's VA certifying official at 509.777.3205.

Visit Questions

When can I visit the Whitworth campus?

We welcome and encourage transfer students to visit campus and get a feel for whether Whitworth is a good fit for you. Throughout the year, we offer transfer students visit opportunities that can include a campus tour, a mock lecture (or class visit, if available), an admissions/financial aid presentation, meals in the dining hall, meetings with professors and coaches, and residence hall tours. We are also providing virtual visits for students who are not able to attend an in-person visit! Please go to www.whitworth.edu/visit for information about campus visits, or contact our admissions office at admissions@whitworth.edu or 509.777.4786 to speak with our campus visit coordinator. We look forward to having you on campus!

General Questions

How many students attend Whitworth? What is the student-faculty ratio?

Whitworth enrolls 1,830 undergraduate students. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1. These and additional facts can be found at www.whitworth.edu/cms/about/facts-and-rankings.

How safe and secure is the Whitworth community?

We have security officers on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Residence halls are locked 24 hours a day. Each student has a key card that opens their hall, and a key for their individual room.

Each residence hall has established a Safe-Walk Program, and there are emergency phones, marked with blue lights, at a number of campus locations. Students can call security any time day or night to request an escort to accompany them across campus.

For more information about safety and security at Whitworth, please visit www.whitworth.edu/security.

Are transfer students required to live on campus?

Students are required to live on campus for the first two years after their high school graduation, regardless of how many credits they have earned through Running Start or another institution. Students whose high school graduation took place fewer than two years ago but who are married, living with their immediate family, have dependent children living with them, have certain physical/psychological limitations, or below full-time enrollment may be exempt from this requirement. However, they must submit a housing waiver for approval. Violation of this policy could result in the student being charged the double-room rate regardless of residency.

If space is available, on-campus housing may be an option for students who are older than 20 or who graduated from high school more than two years prior to entering Whitworth.

For information about on- or off-campus housing, please visit www.whitworth.edu/housing.

What is Spokane like?

Spokane is:

The second-largest city in Washington, with a metro population just above 785,000
Home to a great four-season climate
Located on the eastern (or the sunny/dry!) side of Washington state
An outdoor recreation bonanza, with opportunities within an hour of campus to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, hike, mountain bike, camp, kayak, canoe, go white-water rafting and more
About 300 miles from Seattle (about a four-hour drive or a one-hour flight)
Known for year-round outdoor activities, with dozens of lakes and ski resorts nearby
Rich with cultural activities. Spokane is home to affordable concerts, art exhibits, theatre productions and sporting events that are offered throughout the year. The city also hosts Bloomsday, a huge annual 12K fun run, and Hoopfest, the world's largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament.