Wilson is an independent college dedicated to the education of women, rigorous study in the liberal arts and sciences, and strong career preparation. Wilson is committed to the life of the mind and spirit, to environmental sustainability, and to preparing articulate, ethical leaders who will serve their communities and professions effectively in an increasingly complex, interdependent and global world. The College is distinguished by its supportive, diverse and close-knit community, which is guided by the Wilson Honor Principle.
Approved by the Board of Trustees, May 11, 2002
Wilson College, founded 1869, is a private, Presbyterian-related, liberal arts women's college located on a 300-acre campus in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded by two Presbyterian ministers, but named for its first major donor, Sarah Wilson of nearby St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania.
Wilson College has about 750 students from 16 U.S. states and 22 foreign countries. It's known for its Women With Children program, which allows single mothers to bring their children to live with them campus, as well as for its veterinary medical technician and equestrian programs, and its Fulton Center for Sustainable Living, which operates a seven-acre organic farm and a CSA (community-supported agriculture) that supplies community families and others with fresh, organic produce. Another special feature of Wilson College are the rich traditions that form an important part of campus life.
The college was founded by the Rev. Tryon Edwards and the Rev. James W. Wightman, pastors of Presbyterian churches in nearby Hagerstown, Maryland, and Greencastle, Pennsylvania. The original charter was granted by the Pennsylvania Legislature on March 24, 1869. Wilson was one of the first colleges in the U.S. to accept only female students and was named for Sarah Wilson (1795-1871), who gave two large donations to help get the college started. Anna J. McKeag served as Wilson’s first woman president from 1911 to 1915.
In the 1970s, two tropical storms, Agnes in 1972 and Eloise in 1975, caused flood damage to low-lying buildings on campus.
Although it nearly closed its doors in 1979, a lawsuit organized by students, faculty, parents and an extremely loyal alumnae association succeeded in allowing the college to remain open, making it one of the few colleges to survive a scheduled closing. (It subsequently adopted the phoenix as its mascot, to symbolize the college's survival.) Wilson has remained open as a women's college despite the trend towards turning women's colleges into coeducational institutions.
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| Percent of Students International: | 3% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 83% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 19,570 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 480 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,012 | 40% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,974 | 51% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 8,921 | 97% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 4,203 | 92% | |
Any Aid: |
97% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 57% (Highly Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 97% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 460, Math: 430 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 580, Math: 560 |
| Application Fee: | $ 35.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Recommended |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
