Admit rate has ranged 65%–82% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Westmont College is a small, evangelical Christian liberal arts college perched in the hills of Santa Barbara, where rigorous academics meet a tight-knit, faith-driven community. With an acceptance rate around 77%, it attracts high-achieving students (average GPA: 3.98) who thrive in a residential environment where 96% live on campus. Known for strong outcomes—graduates earn mid-career salaries in the top 9% nationally—Westmont blends spiritual formation with intellectual exploration.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,302
In-state tuition
$53,584
Out-of-state tuition
$53,584
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Acceptance Rate
77%
4-Year Grad Rate
72%
On-Campus Living
96%
Mid-Career Salary
$137,900
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$64,778
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.2×
Median debt at graduation
$23,250
Graduation rate
70%
First-year retention
85%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
82%
Pell (lower-income) share
34%
First-generation share
17%
Endowment / student
$70,785
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Business/Managerial Economics$53,775
Communication and Media Studies$40,402
English Language and Literature, General$32,925
Fine and Studio Arts$26,933
Psychology, General$25,596
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$24,808
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.77
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
223
Summer high
79°F
Winter low
45°F
Annual rain
23.6"
Annual snow
0.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
64
Scholarly works
1,238
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.1%
Bottom → top quintile
29%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Westmont College?
Westmont College's acceptance rate is approximately 77% (Santa Barbara, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Westmont College?
Admitted students at Westmont College typically score 1240–1450 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Westmont College cost?
At Westmont College, the average net price (after aid) is about $29,053 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Westmont College?
Westmont College enrolls approximately 1,302 undergraduate students.
Where is Westmont College located?
Westmont College is located in Santa Barbara, CA.
Admissions
Westmont College is moderately selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 77% ([8], [9], [10], [11]). The admitted first-year class of 2023 boasted an average high school GPA of 3.98 and middle 50% SAT scores between 1140-1380 ([7], [9]). Notably, 74 students in the incoming class ranked in the top 10% of their high school cohorts ([7]). The college received 2,483 applications for a recent cycle, admitting 1,913 and enrolling 1,311 ([12]). While test scores are considered, the admissions process emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., with no strict cutoff thresholds ([8], [10]).
Westmont offers a classic liberal arts curriculum with 30+ majors spanning traditional disciplines like Biology (B.A./B.S.), Chemistry (B.A./B.S.), and Art History (B.A.), alongside professional tracks such as Business/Managerial Economics and Nursing ([13], [16]). The most popular majors reflect this blend: Business/Managerial Economics, Exercise Science/Kinesiology, and Nursing dominate enrollments ([14], [15]). The academic approach integrates faith with learning—what the college calls 'global exploration and multicultural engagement' ([17]). Unique policies include a ban on minoring in one's major field and no overlap of upper-division credits between minors ([16]). Small class sizes (average 17 students) foster close faculty mentorship, with 85% of classes having fewer than 20 students ([1]).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Biology, General$22,192
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life at Westmont revolves around its residential community—96% of students live on campus in a 'Christ-centered' environment ([18], [21]). The 111-acre campus (featured in student-led YouTube tours [23]) promotes intentional living with themed housing options and mandatory residency for all four years ([19], [22]). Described as 'vibrant but conservative Christian' ([20]), social life leans into chapel services, outdoor activities (thanks to the Santa Barbara location), and service projects. RAs provide structured support, while policies reflect evangelical values like abstention from alcohol ([18], [22]). The college offers robust student services, including academic support and spiritual counseling, to foster what it calls 'education beyond the classroom' ([19], [22]).
Westmont delivers strong ROI: graduates with only a bachelor's degree rank in the top 9% for mid-career earnings ($137,900 average) ([24]). Within six months of graduation, alumni report an average salary of $63,652—jumping to $146,800 for those with 10+ years' experience ([25]). The four-year graduation rate stands at 72% ([28]), outperforming national averages for private colleges ([29]). Forbes ranks Westmont among top colleges for return on investment, citing these earnings data ([24]). Notably, 25% of graduates secure jobs in the Santa Barbara area, leveraging local networks ([25]), while others pursue advanced degrees at institutions like UCSB and Fuller Seminary ([26]).
With a sticker price of $64,990 (2023-24), Westmont mitigates costs through generous aid—95% of students receive scholarships or grants, averaging $38,956 annually ([30], [31], [34]). The average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid is $36,412 ([32]), with many families paying 25-50% below published rates ([35]). The college awarded $39 million in grants last year ([31]), including merit scholarships for high-achievers (average aid package: $44,848 [32]). Students typically graduate with $23,250 in debt—below the national average for private colleges ([28]). The Net Price Calculator helps families estimate true costs, accounting for institutional aid ([33], [35]).
Westmont's distinctiveness lies in its fusion of academic rigor (evidenced by 3.98 average incoming GPAs [7]) with intentional Christian community—96% on-campus residency ensures immersion in both ([21]). Its Santa Barbara location offers rare perks: ocean views from dorm rooms and access to California's tech/biotech hubs, boosting outcomes ([24], [25]). The college punches above its weight in earnings, with mid-career salaries rivaling elite universities ([24]). Yet it retains small-college intimacy: no grad students, 10:1 student-faculty ratio, and a 'whole person' education model that interweaves faith, service, and scholarship ([17], [19]). For evangelical students seeking a beachside liberal arts experience with strong ROI, Westmont is a singular option.
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