The Fiske Guide to Colleges has named Warren Wilson College as one of the top 20 “Best Buy” colleges in the U.S. for 2022. Warren Wilson is one of only 10 private colleges to make the list.

This edition marked the 16th time that the Fiske Guide to Colleges, known as “the most widely respected college guide in the country,” has named Warren Wilson College as a “Best Buy” school. 

“Best Buy” schools are colleges and universities that, in the judgment of the editors, offer “outstanding educational value as determined by academic quality in relation to the net cost of attendance.”

Specifically, the Fiske Guide mentioned the school’s North Carolina Free Tuition Plan, which guarantees that all incoming North Carolina students who qualify for federal or state need-based financial aid can attend Warren Wilson tuition-free for all four years. Warren Wilson College also awards full-tuition scholarships to 25 incoming students whose family income levels are equal to or below $125,000 per year with its Milepost One program.

It also noted that Warren Wilson is a work college, where every student has a job on campus.

“Warren Wilson is one of only eight four-year colleges in the nation that requires all residential students to work on campus– a practice that helps keep tuition down. To fulfill their work requirement, students spend 10 to 20 hours every week working in crews that range from blacksmithing, carpentry, and recycling projects to IT services, tutoring, and design and photography, as well as keeping the college farm going,” the guide stated.

“We are proud of the exceptional value we offer to Warren Wilson College students, and we are honored that the Fiske Guide to Colleges has recognized that value,” said Lynn Morton, president of Warren Wilson College. “We remain committed to providing excellent, integrated academics at an accessible, affordable price.”

The guide named several of Warren Wilson College’s majors as “strong programs” including social work, biology, environmental studies, art, psychology, creative writing, outdoor leadership and Appalachian studies. It gave the quality of student life at Warren Wilson College five stars.

It also focused on Warren Wilson’s commitment to the environment.

“The school is at the forefront of the ‘green’ movement and has fully divested its endowment from fossil fuels,” the guide stated. 

In addition, it noted community engagement: “To graduate, students must perform significant community service; they volunteer with more than 100 community organizations tackling issues like food security, homelessness, education, and the environment.”