Whittier College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Whittier, California · Private nonprofit · Open access
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Whittier College is a private nonprofit university in Whittier, California that admits about 81% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $25,757 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Whittier College is a private institution located in Whittier, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, Whittier College admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 81%. Admitted students typically post an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,757 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Whittier College?
Whittier College has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
SAT and ACT scores Whittier College typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
How much does Whittier College actually cost?
Published tuition is $51,350 for in-state students and $51,350 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,082 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $25,757 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 34% of students receive Pell Grants.
Most popular majors at Whittier College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Whittier College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Biology, General. Across all programs, Whittier College confers roughly 227 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness program report a median income of about $45,155 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 46 | $45,155 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 43 | $61,761 |
| Biology, General | 31 | $56,770 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 24 | $45,651 |
| Psychology, General | 23 | $49,534 |
| Social Sciences, General | 21 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 20 | $40,976 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 19 | — |
Is Whittier College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Whittier College disclosed 2 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 1 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- Stanford University4% acceptance
- University of California-Berkeley11% acceptance
- University of California-Los Angeles9% acceptance
- University of Southern California10% acceptance
- University of California-Davis42% acceptance
- University of California-Irvine29% acceptance
- University of California-San Diego27% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Barbara33% acceptance
Next steps for Whittier College
Common questions parents ask about Whittier College
What GPA do I need for Whittier College?
Whittier College has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Whittier College typically admit?
Whittier College does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does Whittier College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Whittier College after grants and scholarships is $25,757 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $51,350. Budget against the net figure.
Is Whittier College realistic for my child?
Whittier College admits 81% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $25,757 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Whittier College?
Whittier College accepts about 81% of applicants. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Whittier College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Whittier College is a private nonprofit institution located in Whittier, California.
What are the most popular majors at Whittier College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Whittier College by annual graduates are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Biology, General. The school awards about 227 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Whittier College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Whittier College reported 2 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers