Whitman College is taking a straightforward approach to college costs. The liberal arts school asks prospective students to share their adjusted gross income, then provides pricing information without requiring a full application first.

This move addresses one of higher education's biggest frustrations. Typically, students must complete lengthy applications and wait weeks to learn their actual price, creating barriers for families who simply want to understand costs upfront.

The policy could give Whitman a competitive edge in attracting price-conscious applicants. By removing the application hurdle for pricing estimates, the college may see increased interest from students who previously avoided the process due to uncertainty about affordability.

Other institutions have experimented with income-based tuition models, but Whitman's approach stands out for its simplicity. The college essentially tells families: share your financial information directly, and we'll give you a clear answer about what college will actually cost.