


Courtesy of Whitworth University
Whitworth University is a private Christian university founded in 1890 in Tacoma, Washington. It began as Whitworth College, named for Presbyterian minister George F. Whitworth, and moved to the Spokane area in 1914.
The institution adopted the name Whitworth University in 2007. Its history helps explain two continuing features of its identity: a liberal arts education with professional programs and an affiliation with the Presbyterian tradition. Prospective students should distinguish that institutional history from the requirements of a particular major, which are set by the current academic catalog.
Whitworth offers undergraduate majors and graduate programs across the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, health-related fields, and theology. Its academic organization includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Education, and the School of Health Sciences.
Undergraduates can explore fields such as biology, computer science, English, psychology, nursing, business, and music. Graduate offerings include programs in areas such as education and business. The School of Continuing Studies provides options intended for adult and nontraditional students. Degree requirements, clinical placements, and admission procedures can differ substantially by program, so applicants should use the catalog for the credential they intend to pursue.
Reported enrollment corresponds to an approximately 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. That institution-wide figure describes scale, not the size of every course or the availability of a particular professor.
Whitworth is in Spokane, Washington, on a campus north of the city center. Students have access to a residential campus while remaining within reach of Spokane-area employers, health care facilities, cultural venues, and outdoor recreation.
The location matters differently for residents and commuters. Students traveling between campus, work, and off-campus housing should check routes and schedules rather than assume every destination is convenient without a car. Spokane International Airport is the principal airport for longer-distance travel. Whitworth's undergraduate experience is centered on its Spokane campus, although individual programs may use off-campus placement sites or other instructional arrangements.
Whitworth describes its educational mission as integrating Christian faith and learning while preparing students for lives of service. The university is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); its religious identity is therefore relevant to its curriculum and campus programming.
That identity does not, by itself, describe every student's beliefs or experience. Applicants who want to understand how faith-related expectations affect a particular degree should examine its curriculum and the university's current community policies. Whitworth's stated priorities are institutional aims, not independent measures of educational outcomes.
Name of the institution
Whitworth UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Presbyterian Church)School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
4-1-4Foundation year
1890Whitworth University is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.