Founded in 1782, Washington College was the first college chartered in the sovereign United States of America. General George Washington gave permission to use his name and contributed 50 guineas toward the founding of the College. The core values of the College then remain true today—integrity, determination, curiosity, civility, leadership, and moral courage—all of which contribute toward our mission to challenge and inspire emerging citizen leaders.
Washington College challenges and inspires emerging citizen leaders to discover lives of purpose and passion.
We share these values of our founding patron, George Washington: truth, integrity, determination, curiosity, civility, leadership, and moral courage. We offer academic rigor and self-discovery in a supportive, residential community of well-qualified, diverse, and motivated individuals. We develop in our students habits of analytic thought and clear communication, aesthetic insight, ethical sensitivity, and civic responsibility.
Unhurried conversation and close connections with an exceptional faculty and staff complement a broad curriculum of study. A beautiful campus, ready access to exciting cities and the Chesapeake Bay, and engagement with cultures and communities locally and around the world afford our students ample resources and opportunities for personal exploration and shared challenges.
We prepare our students for rich and fulfilling lives; for myriad and unpredictable opportunities; for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and productive endeavor.
The enduring values of Washington College – critical thinking, effective communication, and moral courage – move the world.