Here are 36 Colleges that start with W, listed from “Wageningen University & Research” to “Wuhan University”. Many are research-intensive flagships or long-standing regional colleges in Europe, Asia, and North America. Use this list to explore programs, compare locations, and find notable alumni for reference.
Colleges that start with W are institutions whose official English names begin with the letter W. Wageningen and Wuhan are notable examples with strong global research reputations.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Location, Founded, and Notable alumni.
Name: The official English name of the college so you can quickly identify and search for its website or records.
Location: City plus state or country, helping you evaluate distance, regional traits, and local admission systems.
Founded: Year the institution was established, useful for assessing history and institutional maturity at a glance.
Notable alumni: One to three well-known graduates to illustrate the school’s influence and common career pathways.
Colleges that start with W
| Name | Location | Founding Year | Notable Alumni |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams College | Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA | 1793 | Stephen Sondheim, James Garfield |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA | 1834 | Tim Duncan, Maya Angelou, Arnold Palmer |
| Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis, Missouri, USA | 1853 | Harold Ramis, Tennessee Williams |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA | 1870 | Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Nora Ephron |
| Wesleyan University | Middletown, Connecticut, USA | 1831 | Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael Bay, Joss Whedon |
| William & Mary | Williamsburg, Virginia, USA | 1693 | Thomas Jefferson, Jon Stewart, Glenn Close |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester, Massachusetts, USA | 1865 | Robert H. Goddard, Dean Kamen |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington, Virginia, USA | 1749 | Merkle H. Albrittain, Lewis F. Powell Jr. |
| Washington State University | Pullman, Washington, USA | 1890 | Edward R. Murrow, Paul Allen, Dolph Lundgren |
| West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia, USA | 1867 | Jerry West, Don Knotts, Katherine Johnson |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla, Washington, USA | 1859 | Adam West, Channing Frye |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, Illinois, USA | 1860 | Billy Graham, Dan Coates |
| Waseda University | Tokyo, Japan | 1882 | Haruki Murakami, Tadashi Yanai |
| Western University | London, Ontario, Canada | 1878 | Alice Munro, Kevin O’Leary |
| Wageningen University & Research | Wageningen, Netherlands | 1876 | Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Onno van de Stolpe |
| Wuhan University | Wuhan, Hubei, China | 1893 | Lei Jun, Li Wenliang |
| Western Sydney University | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | 1989 | Joel Edgerton, Shannon Cole |
| Wilfrid Laurier University | Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | 1911 | Sam Schachter, Brad Katsuyama |
| Wayne State University | Detroit, Michigan, USA | 1868 | Lilly Tomlin, Keith Ellison |
| Wichita State University | Wichita, Kansas, USA | 1895 | Frank Carney, Dan Carney |
| Wilberforce University | Wilberforce, Ohio, USA | 1856 | Leontyne Price, Bayard Rustin |
| Willamette University | Salem, Oregon, USA | 1842 | Dale T. Mortensen, Bob Packwood |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA | 1886 | Andie MacDowell, Anne W. Patterson |
| Wofford College | Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA | 1854 | W. Benjamin Johnson, Jerry Richardson |
| Wright State University | Dayton, Ohio, USA | 1967 | Brad Sherwood, Eddie McClintock |
| Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, Utah, USA | 1997 | Sarah Frei, Andre Barnett |
| Webster University | Webster Groves, Missouri, USA | 1915 | Jenifer Lewis, Rob Riggle |
| Wheaton College | Norton, Massachusetts, USA | 1834 | Lesley Stahl, Catherine Keener |
| Whittier College | Whittier, California, USA | 1887 | Richard Nixon, Jessamyn West |
| Widener University | Chester, Pennsylvania, USA | 1821 | David J. Brightbill, Cecil B. Moore |
| Wilmington University | New Castle, Delaware, USA | 1968 | Vice President Joe Biden, Jill Biden |
| Wingate University | Wingate, North Carolina, USA | 1896 | Kenwin Cummings, Lorinza “Junior” Harrington |
| Wittenberg University | Springfield, Ohio, USA | 1845 | Jonathan Winters, Hugh McCulloch |
| Western Washington University | Bellingham, Washington, USA | 1893 | Ben Gibbard, Kelli Linville |
| West Chester University | West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA | 1871 | Jill Biden, Pat Croce |
| Worcester State University | Worcester, Massachusetts, USA | 1874 | John B. Dufresne, Mary Fell |
Descriptions
Williams College
A highly selective private liberal arts college. Accredited by NECHE, it consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States.
Wake Forest University
A private research university known for small classes and a “Collegiate University” model. It is accredited by SACSCOC and has strong programs in business, law, and medicine.
Washington University in St. Louis
A top-tier private research university with renowned medical and business schools. Accredited by the HLC, it is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
Wellesley College
A private liberal arts college for women and a member of the Seven Sisters colleges. It is accredited by NECHE and known for its rigorous academics and influential alumnae network.
Wesleyan University
A private liberal arts college known for its open curriculum and student activism. Accredited by NECHE, it is one of the “Little Three” alongside Williams and Amherst.
William & Mary
The second-oldest institution of higher education in the US. A public research university accredited by SACSCOC, it is known as one of the original “Public Ivies.”
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
A private research university focused on science, engineering, and technology. Accredited by NECHE, it is famous for its project-based curriculum.
Washington and Lee University
A private liberal arts university, the ninth-oldest in the US. Accredited by SACSCOC, it is known for its student-run Honor System and strong business and journalism programs.
Washington State University
A public land-grant research university with campuses across Washington. Accredited by the NWCCU, it is a top-tier research institution with strong programs in agriculture and veterinary medicine.
West Virginia University
A public land-grant research university and the state’s flagship institution. Accredited by the HLC, it is known for its forensics and biometrics programs.
Whitman College
A selective private liberal arts college in the Pacific Northwest. Accredited by the NWCCU, it is known for its rigorous academics and strong emphasis on undergraduate education.
Wheaton College
A private, evangelical Christian liberal arts college. Accredited by the HLC, it is sometimes referred to as the “Harvard of Evangelicalism” for its academic rigor.
Waseda University
One of Japan’s most prestigious private research universities. Fully accredited by the Japanese government, it is renowned for its international student population and political science programs.
Western University
A public research university in Canada, officially The University of Western Ontario. It is a member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities and has a top-ranked business school.
Wageningen University & Research
A public research university specializing in life sciences and agricultural research. It is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top universities for agriculture and forestry.
Wuhan University
One of the most prestigious and selective universities in China. Administered by the Ministry of Education, it is renowned for having one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.
Western Sydney University
A public university with multiple campuses in Greater Western Sydney. It is a research-intensive institution recognized for its impact and engagement with its local region.
Wilfrid Laurier University
A public university known for its business, music, and social work programs. It is particularly noted for its strong cooperative education (co-op) and community-focused learning.
Wayne State University
A public research university and Michigan’s third-largest university. Accredited by the HLC, it is known for its urban research mission and strong medical school.
Wichita State University
A public research university known for its strong engineering and business programs. Accredited by the HLC, it has a close relationship with the local aviation industry.
Wilberforce University
A private, historically black university (HBCU). Accredited by the HLC, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans.
Willamette University
A private liberal arts college, the oldest university in the Western United States. Accredited by the NWCCU, it is known for its programs in law, business, and public service.
Winthrop University
A public university offering programs in liberal arts, education, business, and visual arts. Accredited by SACSCOC, it is recognized for its beautiful historic campus.
Wofford College
A private liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Accredited by SACSCOC, it is one of the few US colleges that hosts an NFL training camp.
Wright State University
A public research university named after the Wright brothers. Accredited by the HLC, it is known for its programs in engineering, business, and its medical school.
Western Governors University
A private, non-profit online university known for its competency-based learning model. Regionally accredited by the NWCCU, it serves working adults across the United States.
Webster University
A private university with a global network of campuses. Accredited by the HLC, it offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a focus on international education.
Wheaton College
A private liberal arts college that became coeducational in 1988. Accredited by NECHE, it is known for its personalized education and emphasis on connecting studies to careers.
Whittier College
A private liberal arts college founded by Quakers. Accredited by WASC, it is known for its diverse student body and focus on experiential learning.
Widener University
A private university with programs in law, engineering, nursing, and business. Accredited by MSCHE, it emphasizes civic engagement and leadership.
Wilmington University
A private, non-profit university catering primarily to working adults. Accredited by MSCHE, it is known for its flexible course schedules and affordable tuition.
Wingate University
A private university with comprehensive programs in health sciences, business, and education. Accredited by SACSCOC, it has strong pharmacy and physician assistant programs.
Wittenberg University
A private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Accredited by the HLC, it is known for its strong sense of community.
Western Washington University
A public university located between Seattle and Vancouver. Accredited by the NWCCU, it is highly regarded for its undergraduate programs, particularly in environmental science.
West Chester University
A public university and the largest of the 14 state-owned institutions in Pennsylvania. Accredited by MSCHE, it has strong programs in education, music, and health sciences.
Worcester State University
A public university with a focus on liberal arts and sciences. Accredited by NECHE, it is known for its strong programs in education, nursing, and occupational therapy.