Washington & Jefferson College is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, which is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County, Pennsylvania established by three frontier clergymen in the 1780s: John McMillan, Thaddeus Dod, and Joseph Smith. These early schools eventually grew into two competing colleges, with Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania being chartered in 1802 and Washington College being chartered in 1806. These two schools merged in 1865 to form Washington & Jefferson College.

As of 2009, Washington & Jefferson College had about 12,000 living alumni. Before the union of the two colleges, Washington College graduated 872 men and Jefferson College graduated 1,936 men.

The alumni association recognizes as alumni all students "who have completed at least one college year as full-time students". These alumni include James G. Blaine, who served in Congress as speaker of the House, U.S. senator from Maine, two-time U.S. secretary of state and the Republican nominee for the 1884 presidential election. Other graduates have held high federal positions, including United States Secretary of the Treasury Benjamin Bristow and United States Attorney General Henry Stanbery, who successfully defended Andrew Johnson during his impeachment trial. As a U.S. congressman, Clarence Long was a key figure in directing funds to Operation Cyclone, the CIA's effort to arm the mujahideen in the Soviet–Afghan War. James A. Beaver served as governor of Pennsylvania and as acting president of the Pennsylvania State University; he is the namesake of Beaver Stadium, the largest sports stadium in the world. William Holmes McGuffey authored the McGuffey Readers, which are among the most popular and influential books in history. Thaddeus Dod's student, Jacob Lindley, was the first president of Ohio University. Astronaut and test pilot Joseph A. Walker became the first person to enter space twice. Other graduates have gone on to success in professional athletics, including Buddy Jeannette, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, and Pete Henry, a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Roger Goodell has served as the commissioner of the NFL since 2006. Baseball broadcaster Al Helfer was the radio voice of six World Series. Among graduates who entered the medical field, Jonathan Letterman is recognized as the "father of battlefield medicine." William Passavant is recognized as a saint within the Lutheran Church. James McGready, who studied with Joseph Smith and John McMillan, was a leading revivalist in the Second Great Awakening. Successful graduates in the business realm include Richard Clark, president and CEO of Merck, and John S. Reed, the former chairman of Citigroup and the New York Stock Exchange.

A "?" indicates that the year of graduation is unknown. A "†" indicates final year attended. "Jefferson" indicates attendance at Jefferson College. "Washington" indicates attendance at Washington College.

"Canonsburg" indicates attendance at Canonsburg Academy. "McMillan" indicates attendance at John McMillan's log college. "Dod" indicates attendance at Thaddeus Dod's log college. "Smith" indicates attendance at Joseph Smith's log college.

Academia

Alumni Class year Notability References President of Miami University (1849–1854) President of Hanover College (1868–1870); president of Wilson Female Seminary (1873–1874) Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 141. Principal of Baltimore City College (1857–1873); first professor of Mathematics at Westminster College, Missouri Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 113. 1892 President of Washington & Jefferson College (1922–1931) Longtime trustee of Washington College and interim president (1852–1853); chair of the board of trustees at Washington & Jefferson College (1870); Presbyterian minister at First Presbyterian Church in Washington, Pennsylvania for over 50 years President of Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio (1839–1840); associate reformed minister; gave up ministry to head West Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 66. 1974 Professor of Paleoanthropology at Stony Brook University; expert in hominid taxonomy from the Pliocene era; led the research team that dated the Hofmeyr Skull President of Washington & Jefferson College (1870–1881); Presbyterian minister President of Ohio University (1871–1873); president of Davidson College (1877–1885); professor of Metaphysics, Logic, and Rhetoric; Presbyterian minister Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 175. 1952 Editor of University of Pittsburgh Press (1963–1994); founded Drue Heinz Literature Prize and Pitt Poetry Series President of Lafayette College (1832–1841); president of Miami University (1841–1844); president Washington College, Virginia (1848–1861); author of many theological books; Presbyterian minister President of Lehigh University (1875–1880) and St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland (1880–1889); founder and editor of International Review; lawyer, poet, author, and Protestant Episcopal minister Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 109. Nationally known abolitionist, philanthropist, founder of Washington Female Seminary, and benefactor of LeMoyne–Owen College, a historically Black college in Memphis, Tennessee First president of Ohio University (1809–1822) 1888 Scholar of English literature; wrote The Road to Xanadu: A Study in the Ways of the Imagination, in 1927, the definitive study of Samuel Taylor Coleridge; dean and professor at Washington University in St. Louis (1909–1918) and Harvard University (1918–1939) 1880 Chancellor of University of Pittsburgh (1904–1921); moved the university to its current location in Oakland and fortified its tradition of teacher liberal arts Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 476. Author of McGuffey Readers; president of Cincinnati College (1836–1839); president of Ohio University (1839–1843); professor of Languages and Philosophy Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 299. President of Jefferson College (1817–1822); first president of Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio (1823–1832) Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 17. 1869 President of Washington & Jefferson College (1881–1915) John Monteith President of University of Michigan (1817–1821) Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 24. First president of Muhlenberg College (1867–1877); president of Thiel College (1891–1901) Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 85. 1918 President of Suffolk University (1954–1960) President of Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio (1840–1845); Presbyterian minister; published several theological books Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 70. 1923 President of Washington & Jefferson College (1950–1970); professor of Mathematics at Hamilton College and Washington & Jefferson College President of Jefferson College (1862–1866); professor of Greek; Presbyterian minister President of Ohio University (1848–1852); president of Indiana University (1852–1853); professor of Mathematics at Indiana University, Ohio University, and Centre College President of Washington College (1853–1865), retired to facilitate union with Jefferson College; vice president and professor of West Virginia University (1867–1877); Presbyterian minister Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 49. 1945 Legal academic and professor; dean of University of Pittsburgh School of Law (1966–1977); considered the "father" of Pennsylvania business corporation law; taught at University of Pittsburgh School of Law for over 50 years President of Franklin College in New Athens, Ohio (1837–1838); Presbyterian minister; wrote two early histories of the Presbytery of Redstone and Jefferson College; grandson of college founder Joseph Smith Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 25. Principal of Pittsburgh Academy (1810–1819); founder of Meadville Academy Blake R. Van Leer President of Georgia Tech (1944); former dean at University of Florida and North Carolina State University President of Jefferson College (1802); studied under college founder John McMillan; professor of Moral Philosophy President of Jefferson College (1812–1816); president of Washington College (1817–1829); first president of Indiana University (1829–1851); Protestant Episcopal minister Eaton and Woods 1902, p. 23.

Military and aerospace