Admit rate has ranged 57%–85% 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.
Whittier College is a small, private liberal arts college in Southern California that operates less like a gatekept ivory tower and more like an open workshop for self-designed education. Its defining feature is a deeply personalized academic approach, where students can 'combine courses across disciplines to design a major customized to your interests.' The vibe is less about prestige and more about pragmatic, mentored exploration, supported by a campus life built around over 40 active clubs and a unique, inclusive society system.
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)
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
764
In-state tuition
$51,350
Out-of-state tuition
$51,350
Student Clubs
40+ active clubs
No-Loan Policy
No
Graduation Rate
60%
Meets Full Need
79% met
Demonstrated Interest
Not considered
Early Action Deadline
November 15
Median Earnings (10yr)
$59,492
Societies (Greek Life)
10+ inclusive societies
First-Year Retention Rate
66%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$59,492
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.3×
Median debt at graduation
$24,937
Graduation rate
60%
First-year retention
66%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
67%
Pell (lower-income) share
34%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
34%
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 Administration, Management and Operations$35,914
Social Work$33,281
Sociology$28,309
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$27,765
Social Sciences, General$26,715
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$25,194
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
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
212
Summer high
87°F
Winter low
45°F
Annual rain
20.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Very 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
117
Scholarly works
2,175
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
3.0%
Bottom → top quintile
37%
From bottom quintile
8%
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 Whittier College?
Whittier College's acceptance rate is approximately 81% (Whittier, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Whittier College cost?
At Whittier College, the average net price (after aid) is about $25,757 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Whittier College?
Whittier College enrolls approximately 764 undergraduate students.
Where is Whittier College located?
Whittier College is located in Whittier, CA.
Admissions
Whittier's admissions process is notably accessible, prioritizing a over cutthroat selectivity. For the most recent cycle, the college received 4,521 total applications (4,276 from first-year applicants) and admitted 3,856 students, resulting in a high . The admitted first-year class that ultimately enrolled was 209 students. The process includes several decision plans: Fall Early Action with a November 15 deadline, Spring Regular Decision due December 1, and Fall Rolling Admission. While the college is , it does consider a student's academic record as very important, alongside their application essay, recommendation letters, and character/personal qualities. Extracurricular activities, talent/ability, and volunteer work are considered important. Demonstrated interest—tracking an applicant's engagement with the college—is not considered in admissions decisions, according to the framework, meaning campus visits or emailing an admissions officer won't directly impact your chances. The low (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) underscores that Whittier competes for students who are admitted elsewhere; its appeal is a specific, hands-on educational model rather than exclusivity.
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.
Psychology, General$21,508
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$18,315
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.
The academic culture at Whittier is defined by flexibility and faculty mentorship. The college explicitly encourages students to craft their own path, stating that 'your academics can be as personalized as your goals.' This is operationalized through the ability for students to 'combine courses across disciplines to design a major customized to your interests.' The curriculum spans a range of liberal arts and sciences, with popular majors including:
Business Administration and Management
Psychology
Visual and Performing Arts
Other offered majors range from Anthropology and Biochemistry to Child Development and Economics. The faculty is noted for bringing 'real-world and work experience to their various courses.' This practical, applied focus extends to specialized tracks, such as a Physics program with an Astronomy emphasis, which has drawn interest from international applicants. The small size fosters close student-faculty relationships, positioning the classroom experience as the central pillar of a Whittier education.
Life on Whittier's campus is active and community-oriented, described as a place where 'you will learn more about yourself and others than ever imagined.' A slight majority of students (52%) live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, while 48% live off-campus. The social fabric is woven from more than 40 active student clubs and organizations. A distinctive feature is Whittier's 'societies'—its own version of fraternities and sororities that are open to 'all students, regardless of sex, race, color, or...' These societies, of which there are about 10, form a core part of the social scene. The Dean of Students office frames its mission around 'creating and sustaining a positive campus environment that embraces equity and inclusion.' The college promotes a 'range of cultural and social opportunities,' including theater, film, and communication arts programs, as well as cultural exchange and faculty-led study trips.
Graduation and post-graduate earnings tell a story of a college serving a diverse student body with varying levels of preparation. The six-year graduation rate is reported at 63%, placing it 'within the top 40%' of colleges according to one analysis, though another source notes a 69% six-year rate. Male students graduate at a lower rate of 54%. Early-career earnings for graduates are modest; one source states graduates 'earn about $38,000 in their early career,' which it notes is '$7,000 worse than might be expected given the mix of majors.' The college has claimed an 80% medical school for its pre-med graduates, though this figure is presented anecdotally. The retention rate—the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year—is 66%.
Whittier College is a high-tuition private institution that mitigates cost through substantial institutional aid. The college states it 'awarded over $60 million in scholarships and merit awards.' is a significant component, with the college reporting it met 79% of its students' demonstrated financial need. Grant aid is widespread: 99% of Whittier's full-time beginning undergraduates received grant or scholarship aid in a recent year, and another source confirms 100% of first-year students received such aid. Eligibility for the Whittier College Grant, a key need-based award, is based on 'demonstrated financial need and full-time enrollment.' The college offers federal direct loans as part of financial aid packages and provides a calculator for prospective students to estimate their actual cost. There is no indication in the provided sources of a no-loan policy for low-income families; aid packages can include loans.
Whittier College stands out for its radical commitment to academic customization within a supportive, small-college environment. Unlike institutions with rigid core curricula, Whittier actively invites students to be architects of their own education, blending disciplines to forge unique majors. This creates an atmosphere where the relationship with faculty mentors is paramount. Its unique society system replaces traditional Greek life with more inclusive, student-run organizations, shaping a distinctive campus culture. The college is unpretentious about its selectivity, focusing instead on providing access and personalized attention. This results in a student body that is diverse in background and preparation, which is reflected in the range of graduation outcomes. For the student who thrives on close guidance, wants to design their own academic path, and seeks a tight-knit community in Southern California, Whittier offers a compelling, hands-on alternative to more prescriptive liberal arts colleges.
Whittier College seal · sourceCampus Enhancements | Whittier College · sourceWhittier College - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceCampus Maps | Whittier College · source
