Evergreen Facts

The College

The Evergreen State College is a public, liberal arts college serving Washington state with a total undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,200 undergraduate students. There are three graduate programs offering master's degrees in Environmental Studies, Public Administration and Teaching. There are approximately 300 graduate students.

Our Mission

As an innovative public liberal arts college, Evergreen emphasizes collaborative, interdisciplinary learning across significant differences. Our academic community engages students in defining and thinking critically about their learning. Evergreen supports and benefits from local and global commitment to social justice, diversity, environmental stewardship and service in the public interest.

Academics

Evergreen is ranked by US News & World Report as one of the top colleges in the nation for "Learning Communities," in their 2012 annual rating guide. Creating a vibrant learning community—purposefully restructuring the curriculum by integrating academic subjects—is at the heart of an Evergreen education. The innovative academic programs are interdisciplinary themes that form the core of the curriculum. Instead of taking four or five separate, unrelated classes each quarter, you will take one program that unifies these separate disciplines around a central theme. Evergreen faculty work in teams to teach these theme-based coordinated studies programs. Each program becomes a learning community and you will have many opportunities for active learning and experience greater interaction between your peers and faculty members.

Match your interests with the curriculum by reviewing the fields of study.

More About Our Curriculum provides a comprehensive review of academic life at the college.

Campus

Our 1,000-acre, forested campus is in Olympia, Washington—one hour south of Seattle and two hours north of Portland, Oregon. The virtual tour gives an excellent introduction to the college.

Students

Our students come from Washington, 46 other states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, US Military Bases abroad, and 27 foreign countries. Twenty-five percent are students of color. The average (mean) high school GPA for freshmen who enrolled in September 2012 was 3.02. The average SAT Critical Reading score was 575, the average SAT Math score was 526 and the average ACT composite was 24 for freshmen who enrolled. Student Profiles provides a few stories in their own words.

Faculty

Evergreen's 240 faculty members are distinguished both in scholarship and by their dedication to teaching. Seventy-eight percent hold the highest degree in their field. Our faculty is also a reflection of our commitment to diversity with 23 percent representing people of color.

Student/Faculty Ratio

23:1

Alumni

A recent survey of graduates found that one year after graduation 97 percent were working, in graduate or professional schools, or doing something else meaningful. Our accomplished alumni live and work around the world—and tend to be creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial in their endeavors.

Many Evergreen alumni are working to make the world a better place. Prominent alumni include—Lynda Barry (author, cartoonist), Josh Blue (winner, 2006 "Last Comic Standing"), Joe A. Dear (California Public Employees' Retirement System, Head of Investments), Matt Groening (creator of "The Simpsons"), and Dr. James Moore (Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, founder of GeoPartners Ventures). Explore life after Evergreen through Alumni Profiles.

Financial Aid

Sixty-six percent of Evergreen students receive some form of financial aid with an average award of $13,306.

Tuition and Fees

The annual estimated cost of attendance for residents of Washington is about $21,000. The cost of attendance for nonresidents is about $32,000.

Administration

Thomas L. Purce, President
Ed.D., Idaho State University

Michael Zimmerman, Provost and Academic Vice President
Ph.D, Washington University

John Hurley, Vice President, Finance and Administration
Ed.D., Seattle University

Arthur A. Costantino, Vice President, Student Affairs
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

D. Lee Hoemann, Vice President, Advancement
B.A., Montana State University

Board of Trustees

Accreditation

Evergreen is fully accredited as a baccalaureate and graduate degree granting institution by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Reputation

Evergreen consistently receives high marks in the annual National Survey of Student Engagement (or NSSE). NSSE is administered by the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research in cooperation with the Indiana University Center for Survey Research.

Documenting Effective Education Practice (PDF) report also gave Evergreen an excellent review. This project combined the results of NSSE survey research with qualitative research to examine what makes some educational institutions particularly effective.

Read more about our national reputation.