Whittier College
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $16.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,566,323.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Earnings 46% above the national college median.
Social mobility rate of 2.96% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Every $1 invested returns $16.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Whittier College Matters
Whittier College is a private liberal arts college in Whittier, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 764
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Whittier College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 81% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,757 a year after grants and scholarships — 50% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,492 ten years after enrolling — 46% above the typical college, against $24,937 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 11% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.79 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Whittier College has an acceptance rate of 81%, making it accessible for a wide range of students. With an enrollment of 764, the college fosters a close-knit community that can enhance the college experience. This environment can lead to better engagement and personalized attention from faculty.
The earnings potential for graduates is notable, with a median salary of $59,492 a decade after graduation. This figure suggests that students can expect a solid return on their investment. However, the graduation rate stands at 62%, indicating that while many students find success, some may struggle to complete their degrees.
The net price of attending Whittier College is $25,757, and the median student debt is $24,937. This means that while the financial commitment is significant, it remains manageable in relation to post-graduation earnings. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing degrees in Business & Marketing, Psychology, or the Visual & Performing Arts, taking advantage of the college's strengths.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Whittier College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Whittier College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Whittier College, located in Whittier, California, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 81% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 26. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 62%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Whittier College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Whittier College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $51,350 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $25,757 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,718 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,937.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Whittier College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Whittier College earn a median of $59,492, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Whittier Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Whittier College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Whittier College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,757/year ($103,028 total). Graduates earn $59,492 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,669,351 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,566,323 (16.2× your investment). The median debt is $24,937, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Whittier College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Whittier College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.96%, among the highest in the country. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 37.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,500, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Whittier College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Whittier College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Whittier College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Whittier College, located in Whittier, California, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 81% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 26. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Whittier College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Whittier College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $51,350 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $25,757 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,718 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,937.
Is Whittier College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Whittier College earn a median of $59,492, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Whittier College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Whittier College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.96%, among the highest in the country. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 37.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,500, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Whittier College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Whittier College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.79 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Whittier College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Whittier College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Whittier College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.79 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note