About

See what students say:

Academics

Everything at Warren Wilson College, a small liberal arts school outside Asheville, North Carolina, can be attributed to its unique approach to learning, where academics are combined with “work and service.” As one student describes the College, it’s “work for the hands, service for the heart, learning for the mind.” Outside the classroom, students “are also required to fulfill a certain amount of community service work in coordination with one of many community partners.” The “work program at Warren Wilson is one of the main reasons I chose the school,” says one environmental science major, and another student adds that the “work program is [what’s] truly interesting about this school. We run our own little country here basically.” That doesn’t mean academics get short shrift—as one history major points out, “We take as many credits as other college students and we work 8–16 hours a week.” Professors at Warren Wilson earn mostly high praise from students: “They are great at both lectures and discussion, and are able to teach nuanced, complex ideas and concepts in interesting and concise ways.” With the small size and strong sense of community, the faculty here is very involved and very accessible.

Student Body

“The student body at [Warren Wilson] is sustainable, eclectic, earthy, hard-working, and very community oriented.” As one photography major puts it, “If you’re looking for someplace different, this is it.” The school’s former motto was “We’re not for everyone, but maybe you’re not everyone,” and some students find that still holds true, though others note that “limited racial diversity” “does not create a welcoming environment to racial and ethnic minorities on the campus.” At the same time, vocal students stress the school’s accepting nature, underscoring that Warren Wilson “has a strong LGBTQ community that [faces] a far lesser level of discrimination at this school than at most colleges and universities.” As an environmental science major puts it, “The environment and proximity to Asheville attract the typical tree-hugging hippie crowd, but there’s really a place for everyone at the college” and nearly everyone is “actively engaged in issues of social justice.” In short, Warren Wilson students are “fantastically talented, hardworking, and willing to think outside the box.”

Campus Life

With class work, community service, and time spent on one of the numerous campus work crews, students say “days are easily filled” and “weekdays tend to be very busy.” When it’s time to relax, “plenty of students spend as much time outside as possible hiking, swimming, skating, exploring the city of Asheville, and partying.” “It’s a very outdoorsy campus environment because we are in the middle of Appalachia” and “we have miles and miles of hiking trails that are campus property.” Beyond the outdoors, “creative writing and coffee culture are a big part of Warren Wilson’s culture,” along with live music and “contra dancing on Thursdays.” Some students say that the work crews are the closest thing the school has to fraternities and some of the more popular pastimes are “activities related to the crews—like blacksmithing workshops, beekeeping workshops, fabric workshops.” With the school’s appreciation of music, the “cafe is usually hosting shows that are a huge draw.” In one student’s estimation, “Everyone at the school loves the outdoors and has a healthy appreciation for taking an afternoon off to explore the river or trails.” Warren Wilson is a place where politically-, socially-, and environmentally-focused “discussions are ubiquitous in and out of the classroom.”

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Monique A. Cote
Campus Visit Coordinator

Address
P.O. Box 9000
Asheville, NC 28815

Phone
800-934-3536

Email
admit@warren-wilson.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Sage Cafe
Holden Arts Center
Witherspoon/Morse Science Center
Dogwood-a short hike to this great view
Cow Pie Cafe (Vegetarian/Vegan)

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Trails for hiking, mountain biking
Blue Ridge Parkway
Pisgah Brewing
Laughing Seed- Fantastic Vegan/Vegetarian
The Dripolator Coffeehouse

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
Monday - Friday

800-934-3536

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: 9:15 am and 12:45 pm Weekdays
Average Length: Varies

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Same as interview

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Advance Notice
1 week

Contact Email Address for Visit
admit@warren-wilson.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Available

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Limitations
not guaranteed/only upon availability

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Asheville Regional Airport is 30 min from campus. Delta and US Air fly to Asheville. There is a shuttle and taxi service costing approx. $30.00 one way. We do our best to provide transportation to and from the Airport on weekdays during business hours-but cannot guarantee rides. We cannot provide rides on nights or weekends. Other options (sometimes cheaper) are the Greenville/Spartanburg, SC Airport- 1 hrs away by rent a car, or the Charlotte, NC Airport 2 hours away. There is an Asheville Trailways/Greyhound Bus Station 15 min from Campus as well. This # is 1800-231-2222.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From I-40 west of Asheville: If you are arriving by car via I-40 from areas west of Asheville, do not take the Asheville exits (I-240), but rather stay on I-40 going East until you get to Exit 55. Take Exit 55 (East Asheville), turn left and go under the interstate. Go to the first traffic light (at the intersection with US-70/Tunnel Road), and turn right onto US-70. On US-70, go 1.5 miles until you reach the next traffic light and turn left onto Warren Wilson Road. Travel about 1.5 miles until you reach the campus. Take the second entrance into the campus (the first being a gravel service road), go past the library on the right, and look for parking areas. From I-40 east of Asheville: If you are traveling on I-40 east of Asheville take Exit 59 (Swannanoa) which has a "Warren Wilson College" sign. Bear right at the exit and go to the traffic light at the intersection with US-70. Turn left and go about 2 miles until you reach the second traffic light. Turn right on Warren Wilson Road. Go about 1.5 miles until you reach the campus. Take the second entrance onto the campus, go past the library on your right, continue up the hill and park in designated areas. From the airport: If you are traveling from the airport, take Interstate 26 West to I-40 East, then follow the instructions from I-40 West of Asheville.

Local Accommodations
St. Claire Guesthouse on Campus-upon availability to prospective students- 2 nights free, 3 meals free (you can pay for other meals at our cafeteria or vegetarian/vegan caf ). Two weeks or more notice required. Not always available- please call. For Parents and other family members there are hotels 10 min from Campus- Holiday Inn East Tunnel Rd.-828-298-5611, Beat Inn-828-298-4000, Motel 6-828-298-3040, Super 8- 828-298-7952. There are some wonderful historic places to stay- beautiful settings, but pricey- Grove Park Inn Resort-828-252-2711, Haywood Park Hotel-1800-228-2522, and the Inn on Biltmore Estate-800-858-4130. Also there are 2 great B and B's in Black Mt. 15 min away- The Inn Around the Corner-828-669-6005, and The Red Rocker Inn-828-669-5991, the B and B's are mid range priced.

Admissions

Applicants: 893
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average HS GPA: 3.55







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