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Whittier College

Whittier College

Whittier, CA · Suburb · 764 students
WebsiteCommon AppScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$25,757
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
62%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
69% typical
$59,492
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$58,391 typical
81%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
64% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

Whittier College is an intimate private liberal arts college near Los Angeles, widely recognized for its cultural diversity and strong academic offerings in kinesiology, business administration, biology, and pre-professional health tracks. The undergraduate experience is uniquely anchored by the innovative Whittier Scholars Program, which empowers students to bypass standard general education requirements and design their own interdisciplinary majors with personalized faculty mentorship. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), the college fosters an inclusive, close-knit campus culture where student life is distinctively shaped by century-old local "societies" rather than traditional national Greek organizations.

Wikipedia:Whittier College is a private liberal arts college in Whittier, California, United States. Founded by Quakers in 1887, it is a federally-designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. As of fall 2025, it had 797 undergraduate and graduate students. Whittier athletic teams compete in NCAA Division III.

Location
Whittier, CA, 90601 · Suburb campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
LAX · Los Angeles
22 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$51,350
Housing & food (on campus)$17,082
Books & supplies$1,000
Cost of attendance$70,662
Average net price$25,757
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$51,350
Housing & food (on campus)$17,082
Books & supplies$1,000
Cost of attendance$70,662
Average net price$25,757
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.whittier.edu
How it’s made up · 2026-27
Whittier College’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$53,464
Fees$790
Housing$9,154
Food$7,254
Total of the above$70,662
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$21,718
$30–48k
$19,928
$48–75k
$24,973
$75–110k
$26,718
$110k+
$30,599
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
62%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
53%
Back for yr 2
66%
Transferred
26%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
66% graduated · 31% transferred · 3% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$46,025
10 yrs after entry$59,492
Debt
Median at graduation$24,937
Monthly payment$264
Middle 50% owe$8.1k–$27k
90th percentile$31,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — arts & sciences: $58,391 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
81%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard
ACT midpoint
26

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Essay prompts

If Whittier College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 43%Women 57%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
8 : 1
Pell grant
34%
First-gen
34%
Family income
$64,984
Independent
5%
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
2%
Race & ethnicity
White
24%
Hispanic
39%
Black
6%
Asian
6%
Two or more
5%
Non-resident
13%
AI/AN
1%
NH/PI
1%
Unknown
6%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Water Polo
    Men's · Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$46,025
After 10 yrs
$59,492
Business Administration, Management and Operations64
Biology, General49
Psychology, General36
Social Sciences, General34
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness32
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics16
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services16
English Language and Literature, General14
Natural Resources Conservation and Research13
Mathematics13
Social Work13
Economics9
Political Science and Government9
History7
Engineering Physics6
Physics6
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$139M
Full-time faculty
74%
Faculty salary
$9,094/mo
Teaching spend
$25,263
per student
Federal loans
54%
Classification
Carnegie type
Baccalaureate — arts & sciences
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if Whittier College is the right fit for you?

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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