Whittier College
Whittier, CA
Whittier College is a private liberal arts college located in Whittier, California. Founded in 1887, it has a rich history and a strong emphasis on providing students with a well-rounded education. The college offers a wide range of majors and programs, with an average class size of 14 students, ensuring personalized attention and meaningful interactions with faculty. Whittier College is known for its strong commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and its vibrant campus community fosters intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and civic engagement.
The academic programs at Whittier College are designed to prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world. The college offers more than 30 majors and 30 minors, ranging from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to business, education, and the arts. Students are encouraged to explore their passions and develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills through engaging classroom experiences, independent research, internships, and study abroad opportunities.
In addition to its rigorous academic curriculum, Whittier College offers a rich campus life experience. With over 60 student clubs and organizations, students have endless opportunities to pursue their interests and make lasting connections with peers. The college also has a strong focus on community engagement and provides various community service and leadership opportunities. Nestled in the scenic San Gabriel Valley, Whittier College offers a picturesque campus with a close-knit community where students can thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Whittier College is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Whittier, CA and set in a suburban environment. Its campus spans 95 acres. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 94%. The freshman retention rate at Whittier College is 69% and the six-year graduation rate is 66%.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Whittier College.
Quick Facts
1,131
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
94%
Acceptance Rate
$48,924
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
66%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Read on to learn some vital facts about admission policy and requirements at Whittier College.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,388 in 2023. Whittier College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them.
Test Scores
10% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 5% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 16.67% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 55.56% between 1,200 and 1,399, 22.22% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 5.56% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 25, 41.67 between 24-29 and 33.33 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2023 was 25 while the average GPA was 3.43. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 603 and an average SAT Math score of 621.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2023, the freshman retention rate for Whittier College was 69%.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 66%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the right match for you. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Whittier College in 2023 was 1,192.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 24% for that year. There was a total of 1,131 undergrad students, including 78 international students. 81 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 494 male and 626 female full-time students in 2023. There were 6 full-time graduate male and 17 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Whittier College.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 76, and the number of African American students was 55. 499 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 75 identified with more than one race. There were also 41 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
Tuition in 2023 was $48,924 for full-time domestic students. As Whittier College is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2023 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $940.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,000.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At Whittier College, the 2023 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $16,586. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2023 amounted to $9,694 for one academic year.
| Tuition | $ 48,924 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,586 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 66,510 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Whittier College, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 190 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $41,216.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
764 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 917. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $2,598,738, and state $3,254,015. The students of Whittier College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $18,609,711, and external in the amount of $965,851.
$27,537
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 136 students overall (including freshmen) at Whittier College in 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 35 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $15,913,384. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $178,467 USD.
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Whittier College was 10:1: that means 10 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 130 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 72 men and 67 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Whittier College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Whittier College.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 55 open-membership organizations at Whittier College. 0.1 percent of male and 0.3 of female students are participants in different organizations at Whittier College. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Kinesiology & Nutrition Science Club (KNS), followed by Athenian Society and Sustainability Club. Other popular organizations among the students at Whittier College are Associated Students of Whittier College (ASWC) and Poet eSports.
In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining. For students looking to explore media and communication, Whittier College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Whittier College offers a number of services crucial for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Whittier College.
All in all, campus life at Whittier College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Whittier College.
Career Counselling
At Whittier College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
-
Whittier College is located in Whittier, CA.
-
According to the latest information, the tuition for Whittier College is 48,924 USD a year.
-
This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
-
The most recent reported acceptance rate for Whittier College is 94%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Whittier College is 69%.
Contact Information
Whittier College,
13406 East Philadelphia Street
Whittier, CA
90608-0634
562 907-4238
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.