Whittier College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Whittier College is a private research university in Whittier, California, enrolling about 764 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 80.79% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $59,492 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $51,350
- 2024 Average Net Price: $25,757 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 80.79% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 764 97.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 59.96%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 33.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 12.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 74.4%
- Average ACT Score: 26
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 819
- Applicants (IPEDS): 2,797
- Room & Board: $17,082 annual estimate
Whittier College: what the data shows
Common questions about Whittier College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Whittier College?
Whittier College is located in Whittier, CA (ZIP 90601).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Whittier College public or private?
Whittier College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Whittier College cost?
Published tuition: $51,350.
Average net price after aid: $25,757.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $21,718 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $19,928 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $24,973 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $26,718 |
| $110,001+ | $30,599 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $205,400.
How hard is it to get into Whittier College?
Admission rate: 80.79%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: midpoint ACT 26.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Whittier College?
Total enrollment: 764 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 819 students.
Graduate enrollment: 26 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Whittier College?
150%-time completion rate: 59.96%.
First-year retention: 66.2%.
What do graduates of Whittier College earn?
Median earnings: $46,025 six years after entry; $59,492 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,937.
33.91% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Whittier College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (40 completions)
- Psychology, General (27 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (24 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (23 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (23 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (18 completions)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other (16 completions)
- Child Development (15 completions)
- Graphic Design (9 completions)
- Environmental Science (8 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Whittier College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 80.79%; completion rate 59.96%; median earnings $59,492 at 10 years; net price $25,757. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$51,350
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Whittier College was $51,350.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$25,757
2024 Value
In 2024 Whittier College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $25,757.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$103,028 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$25,757 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$205,400 4-Year Tuition
$17,082 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,000 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$69,432 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$277,728 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Whittier College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
33.91% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
53.88% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Whittier College 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 Whittier College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $40,296 | $40,296 | $33,181 |
| 2014 | $41,836 | $41,836 | $32,984 |
| 2015 | $43,280 | $43,280 | $36,005 |
| 2016 | $44,774 | $44,774 | $25,008 |
| 2017 | $46,310 | $46,310 | $25,322 |
| 2018 | $48,086 | $48,086 | $24,522 |
| 2019 | $49,514 | $49,514 | $24,570 |
| 2020 | $49,514 | $49,514 | $26,740 |
| 2021 | $49,514 | $49,514 | $19,774 |
| 2022 | $49,864 | $49,864 | $26,635 |
| 2023 | $49,864 | $49,864 | $29,871 |
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.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
80.79% Acceptance Rate
2,797 Total Applicants
2,388 Students Admitted
145 First-Time Students Enrolled
6.07% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
ACT Average: 26
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Whittier College reported total enrollment of about 764 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (39.0%), White (23.9%), and Non-Resident Alien (13.4%). About 33.91% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 33.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Whittier College in 2024 is 764 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 819 students. Graduate enrollment is about 26 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
66.2%
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
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 39.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
52.64% 100% Completion Time
59.96% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 52.64% of students graduating from Whittier College 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: 65% male / 35% female
- Psychology, General: 22% male / 78% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 29% male / 71% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Whittier College.
Return on Investment
$24,937 Median Student Debt
$59,492 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
41.92% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
477.44% Return on Investment
4.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Whittier College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 38 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 40 completions
2. Psychology, General: 27 completions
3. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 24 completions
4. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 23 completions
5. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 23 completions
6. English Language and Literature, General: 18 completions
7. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other: 16 completions
8. Child Development: 15 completions
9. Graphic Design: 9 completions
Most popular programs at Whittier College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Whittier College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Whittier College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 74.4%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,094
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $25,263
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Whittier College is a private non-profit institution located in Whittier, CA, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General. Enrollment is approximately 764 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (39.0%), White (23.9%), Non-Resident Alien (13.4%). The admission rate is 80.79%. Average ACT scores for admitted students are 26. The 150%-time completion rate is 59.96%. Approximately 33.91% of students receive Pell Grants. About 33.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Whittier, CA 90601
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Whittier College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Whittier College located?
Whittier College is located in Whittier, CA.
What is Whittier College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Whittier College is 80.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,797 applicants and 2,388 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Whittier College cost?
Reported tuition is $51,350 and average net price is $25,757 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,082 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Whittier College?
Whittier College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 819 students, Hispanic or Latino (39.0%), White (23.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Whittier College?
About 33.5% of students at Whittier College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Whittier College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Whittier College reports midpoint ACT about 26.
What do graduates of Whittier College earn?
Median earnings are $46,025 six years after entry and $59,492 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Whittier College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 60.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Whittier College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,937.
Is Whittier College public or private?
Whittier College is a private nonprofit institution located in Whittier, CA.
Is Whittier College an HBCU?
No. Whittier College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Whittier College a tribal college?
No. Whittier College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
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
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Whittier, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.