College Characteristics & General Information
General Information | Undergraduate Enrollment | Average time to Graduate | Student to Faculty Ratio | Clubs, Study Abroad, and Community Service
- Each college has its own personality. You'll want to explore the details to find out which one fits you.
There are many aspects of choosing a college to take into account: where the college is located, how big it is, its religious affiliation, and the diversity of the student body and faculty all are factors worth considering when deciding which college you would like to attend. The information below will help you get a better idea of the individual personalities of the independent colleges. Of course, the best way to choose a college isn't by a few statistics, but by the overall character of the school. Look through their website to get a better feeling of this. Better yet, visit the college. Click on a college name to read more about its personality and mission.
General College Information
| College | Location | Affiliation | Calendar |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane | Catholic - Jesuit | Semester |
| Heritage University | Toppenish | Non-Denominational | Semester |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Lutheran | Semester |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Catholic - Benedictine | Semester |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Free Methodist | Quarter |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Catholic - Jesuit | Quarter |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | Non-Denominational | Semester |
| Walla Walla University | College Place | Seventh-day Adventist | Quarter |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla | Non-Denominational | Semester |
| Whitworth University | Spokane | Presbyterian | Semester |
Undergraduate Enrollment
How many students attend a school can be a central aspect of what kind of education experience you will have at that school. Smaller colleges usually have the advantage of smaller class sizes and more opportunities to get to know your professors and classmates.

Average Time to Graduate
Of the students who graduate, most do so in four years.
| Gonzaga University | Heritage University | Pacific Lutheran University | Saint Martin's University | Seattle Pacific University | Seattle University | University of Puget Sound | Walla Walla University | Whitman College | Whitworth University |
| Percent of graduates who complete in four years | 78% | <10%* | 76% | 64% |
81% |
71% | 88% |
43%** |
91% | 83% |
* At Heritage University a large number of students are mature, working adults or transfer students, with significant lapse between secondary school and the pursuit of higher education. On average, 12% of the undergraduates are 'full time' freshman. The average age of undergraduate students is 32. This affects any interpretation attached to a traditional measure of 'time-to-completion', and any comparison between Heritage and students attending other institutions.
** Many students at Walla Walla University go on a mission before graduation, which reduces the number of graduates who complete in four years. Also, many Seventh-Day Adventist colleges regularly transfer students between them. This makes the graduation rate seem much lower, when those same freshmen are graduating from another Seventh-day Adventist School.
Source: IPEDS 2009 Graduates
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student to faculty ratio is an important statistic. It tells you how many students there are in relationship to how many professors. A smaller student to faculty ratio means smaller class sizes, more discussion and more individual attention from professors. This environment of close community and discussion is one of the best aspects of attending a private college. It helps students learn to think independently on a wide range of subjects.
| Gonzaga University | Heritage University | Pacific Lutheran University | Saint Martin's University | Seattle Pacific University | Seattle University | University of Puget Sound | Walla Walla University | Whitman College | Whitworth University |
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10 to 1 | 10 to 1 |
15 to 1 | 12 to 1 | 14 to 1 | 13 to 1 | 12 to 1 |
14 to 1 |
10 to 1 |
12 to 1 |
| Percent of classes with less than 30 students | 80% | 100% | 80% |
95% | 70% | 85% | 90% | 85% | 95% | 85% |
Source: IPEDS
Clubs, Study Abroad, and Community Service
Gonzaga University
Heritage University
Pacific Lutheran University
Saint Martin's University
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle University
University of Puget Sound
Walla Walla University
Whitman College
Whitworth University
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