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Whittier College

Whittier, California · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$25,757What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
81%
Graduation rate
62%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
764
In-state tuition
$51,350Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$51,350
SAT midpoint
1,230
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$59,492Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$25,757

Better than 35% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

62%

Better than 56% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$59,492

Better than 66% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$24,937

Better than 50% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$63,664

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$25,757

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Whittier College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time62%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return66%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$24,937
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$59,492

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Whittier College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,07364
Biology, General$32,13949
Psychology, General$30,32136
Political Science and Government$29,6169
English Language and Literature, General$26,31714
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$24,05532
Social Sciences, General$20,66034
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported16
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesNot reported16
MathematicsNot reported13
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported13
Social WorkNot reported13
EconomicsNot reported9
HistoryNot reported7
Engineering PhysicsNot reported6
SociologyNot reported6
PhysicsNot reported6
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported5
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported5
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported4
AnthropologyNot reported4
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported4
MusicNot reported4
International/Globalization StudiesNot reported3
PhilosophyNot reported3
ChemistryNot reported1
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
Education, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reportedNot reported

All 31 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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