Westcliff University
Irvine, CA 92614
About Westcliff University
Westcliff University is a private for-profit university in Irvine, California, enrolling about 2,363 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 73.15% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Student demographics in federal data include Race/ethnicity unknown (75.4%) and Non-Resident Alien (9.3%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Westcliff University charges 6% above the national private for-profit median tuition ($17,670).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 2.2×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 62.20%.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westcliff University | $17,670 | $35,426 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Westcliff University really?
Key findings
- Westcliff University charges 6% above the national private for-profit median tuition ($17,670).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 2.2×.
Westcliff University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $17,670
Finding Westcliff University charges 6% above the national private for-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $17,670. That is 6% above the national private for-profit median ($16,637). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 2.2×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 48% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private for-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Westcliff University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Westcliff University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Westcliff University is $35,426.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $35,426 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $27,083 above the California median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $15,373 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Westcliff University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Westcliff University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Westcliff University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
High completion indicates students finish programs at scale; it does not alone measure instructional quality or labor-market fit.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$17,670
Avg. net price
$35,426
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $24,253 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $33,829 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $35,913 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $36,031 |
| $110,001+ | $40,799 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $70,680. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Westcliff University is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General494
- Data Analytics, General82
- Information Technology Project Management77
- Law76
- Computer and Information Sciences, General68
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 53% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Westcliff University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Westcliff University is a good school for those looking for high program completion rates.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Westcliff University.
Campus
Location
Irvine, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 92614
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is about 1.8× the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Tribal Colleges and Universities
Size
Enrollment
2,363
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,797
- Graduate
- 5,323
- Full-time share
- 68%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$23,750
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 5.99%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Westcliff University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Westcliff University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Westcliff University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2017–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $7,020 | $7,020 | — |
| 2018 | $8,220 | $8,220 | $13,673 |
| 2019 | $8,700 | $8,700 | $19,907 |
| 2020 | $13,560 | $13,560 | $18,354 |
| 2021 | $16,593 | $16,593 | $25,243 |
| 2022 | $17,550 | $17,550 | $24,826 |
| 2023 | $21,000 | $21,000 | $26,455 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Westcliff University reported total enrollment of about 2,363 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 63% male and 37% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Race/ethnicity unknown (75.4%), Non-Resident Alien (9.3%), and White (5.4%). About 5.99% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
67.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Westcliff University in 2024 is 2,363 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,797 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,323 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
71.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
33.01% 100% Completion Time
62.20% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 33.01% of students graduating from Westcliff University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 59% male / 41% female
- Data Analytics, General: 41% male / 59% female
- Information Technology Project Management: 68% male / 32% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
What do Westcliff University graduates earn—and in which programs?
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Westcliff University.
Evidence Median federal loan debt: $23,750. Average net price used in cost models: $35,426.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Westcliff University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (25 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Westcliff University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Westcliff University graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Westcliff University—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 8.4%
- California median 30.9 pp below median (39.3%)
- Far West median 37.3 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 49.5 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,591
- California median 0.75× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 0.79× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $2,259
- California median 0.35× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 0.32× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 0.31× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Westcliff University at a glance
Westcliff University
Westcliff University is a private for-profit institution in Irvine, CA, classified as Tribal Colleges and Universities.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralData Analytics, GeneralInformation Technology Project Management
- Largest enrollment groups
- Race/ethnicity unknown75.4%Non-Resident Alien9.3%White or Caucasian5.4%
Schools near Westcliff University
Other campuses in Irvine, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Westcliff University located?
Westcliff University is located in Irvine, CA.
What is Westcliff University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Westcliff University is 73.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,458 applicants and 658 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Westcliff University's tuition?
Westcliff University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $17,670 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $35,426 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Westcliff University cost?
Reported tuition is $17,670 and average net price is $35,426 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,632 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Westcliff University?
Westcliff University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,797 students, Race/ethnicity unknown (75.4%), Non-Resident Alien (9.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What is the graduation rate at Westcliff University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 62.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Westcliff University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,750.
Is Westcliff University public or private?
Westcliff University is a private for-profit institution located in Irvine, CA.
Is Westcliff University an HBCU?
No. Westcliff University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Westcliff University a tribal college?
No. Westcliff University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Westcliff University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Westcliff University does not meet that proxy (reported share 2.3%).
Is Westcliff University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Westcliff University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.