Whittier College
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. freshman retention is below 65%. financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
Whittier College is a private nonprofit institution located in Whittier, California with approximately 812 undergraduate students enrolled. Whittier College has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 85%. The average net price after financial aid is $29,871 per year. The graduation rate is 63%, and the typical graduate earns $50,900 within 10 years of enrollment.
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.
The numbers tell a mixed story here — a 53% freshman retention rate and 63% graduation rate suggest many students either leave or struggle to finish, which is a real concern worth pressing the school on before enrolling. On the upside, median debt at graduation is a manageable $18,125, and the small campus (under 900 students) offers genuine access to professors and a tight-knit community, particularly for Latino students given its Hispanic-Serving Institution status. Worth considering if you're drawn to a small liberal arts environment in Southern California and have a clear plan to stay engaged, but look carefully at why so many students don't make it to graduation day.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (812 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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University of California-Los Angeles
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Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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