Washington College logo

As the first college chartered in the newly independent United States, Washington College is still defined by its close connection to America's founding era and its commitment to educating the leaders of tomorrow. The lessons embodied by founding patron George Washington resonate particularly for a new generation of young people as they develop the leadership traits so important for making positive contributions in today's society: a steadiness in purpose, personal courage, and an unstinting allegiance to the common good.

An idyllic location on the Chesapeake Bay's storied Chester River. Extraordinarily gifted professors committed to student success. A strong sense of community among a population of 1,484 students from all over the world. Our reputation as "the writing college." You'll find all this and more at Washington College. We're home to the Sophie Kerr Prize, the nation's largest undergraduate literary prize, and the annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, the most fun you can have on a sinking ship. Washington College students can learn to use antique letterpresses, build and deploy underwater robotics, or manage their own investment portfolio.

Washington College campus

Our students don't just study their chosen disciplines — they practice them. They are scientists, historians, authors, musicians, or entrepreneurs, getting hands-on, practical experience in more than 40 majors and academic programs. What's more, we provide plenty of opportunities to combine disciplines because we understand that everything is connected: art and science, history and economics, politics and religion. Our signature Chesapeake Semester offers the perfect example of our multi-disciplinary approach as students travel the Chesapeake Bay for 12 weeks, learning of its environmental, historical, cultural, and economic importance.

The College's emphasis on student research, solid writing skills, and its high-level focus on experiential learning are at the core of the Washington College education. Students can access any number of funding sources, including the Hodson Trust Scientific Merit Scholar Endowment, the Hodson Trust Undergraduate Research Scholars Fund, and the Hodson Trust Internship Endowment, to enhance their studies. The Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows, the Phi Beta Kappa Gerda Blumenthal Award, the Schottland Business Leadership Internships, and the Explore America Summer Internships all support travel and room-and-board expenses for internships and research, both domestically and abroad.

students in the classroom

Three signature centers — the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, the Center for Environment & Society, and the Rose O'Neill Literary House — offer special academic programming, host notable speakers, and sponsor internships and field experiences that help students connect their passions to real-world opportunities.

The Hodson Boathouse, dedicated fall 2018, supports our nationally competitive sailing and rowing teams, and offers expansive views of the Chester River for events and regattas. We have also broken ground for Semans-Griswold Environmental Hall, a waterfront academic center that will promote environmental conservation and forward-thinking green initiatives.

We've also recently added new programs in biochemistry & molecular biology, communication & media studies, public health, and related health professions, and have developed dual-degree programs with Columbia University (engineering), Duke University (environmental science and environmental studies), Johns Hopkins University (nursing), the University of Maryland (pharmacy and nursing), and William & Mary College (accounting). Wherever their interests might lie, our promise is to engage every student in a learning community that leverages, challenges, and expands his or her talents and potential, while instilling in them the enduring values of critical thinking, effective communication, and moral courage.

students on campus

For more than 80 years, Washington College has been a beneficiary of The Hodson Trust's munificence. Much of this generosity has been directed to scholarship endowments for undergraduate students. As a result, annually more than 130 students enjoy scholarships made possible by gifts from The Hodson Trust. These scholarships are automatically renewed, provided the recipient maintains a 3.0 grade point average, for a maximum of four years.

If this sounds like the kind of supportive intellectual community you'd like to join, please contact the Admissions Office at Washington College, 300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620, call 410-778-7700, or email wc_admissions@washcoll.edu.

Back to Top