Whitworth University Named One of the Best Colleges in the West and Top Green College by The Princeton Review
In its “2025 Region by Region” web feature, The Princeton Review featured 631 colleges in seven zones. Whitworth was considered one of the academically outstanding institutions in the West. The Princeton Review uses interviews with more than 165,000 college students, surveys from administrators, staff visits to schools, and opinions of college counselors and advisors in its methodology.
In describing Whitworth, The Princeton Review editors wrote, “Many find ‘one of Whitworth’s greatest strengths [to be] its small class sizes,’ but overall the university simply provides a ‘very supportive community with a positive attitude.’ They also appreciate that the community places an ‘emphasis on Christianity in the classroom and among professors’ as well. As for professors, one Whitworth Pirate notes ‘I really couldn’t ask for a better, more supportive group.’ Others agree, describing the faculty as ‘wonderful,’ ‘personable,’ and ‘extremely knowledgeable.’ Teachers are seemingly ‘always available for extra help’ and will ‘work independently to … create meaningful relationships [with students] that prove to last beyond college.’”
Whitworth was also selected for inclusion in “The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges.” The university received an 80 rating in the guide, which profiles more than 500 colleges that foster a culture of environmental responsibility and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.
Chris Eichorst, assistant vice president of facilities services & security, says Whitworth is committed to sustainability and continually seeks innovative ways to enhance its environmental practices.
“We are proud to say that we have a 76.5-kilowatt solar array on our aquatics center and get 705,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity from the solar farm in Lind, Wash., through Avista’s Solar Select program,” Eichorst says. “Additionally, we are optimizing our energy use on campus through building automation and diagnostics systems. We have been designated a Tree Campus Higher Education by the Arbor Day Foundation for the past six years, and nearly all our domestic water is from our own on-site water well.”
"We are delighted to recommend Whitworth to students who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a ‘green’ one,” says Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief. “Whitworth offers excellent academics and also demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability in its campus programs, policies and practices.”
About The Princeton Review:
The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep and college admissions services company. Every year, it helps millions of college and graduate school-bound students as well as working professionals achieve their education and career goals through its many education services and products. These include online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors; online resources; more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House; and dozens of categories of school rankings. Founded in 1981, The Princeton Review is now in its 43rd year. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University.
About Whitworth University:
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university has an enrollment of about 2,500 students and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.
Jeanne Krier, The Princeton Review, pressoffice@review.com.
