Class Profile & College Highlights
Whittier College is a residential four-year liberal arts institution that prepares students from diverse backgrounds to excel in a complex global society.
Through challenging, interactive courses taught by accomplished professors, students learn to make connections across disciplines, understand cultural perspectives, and integrate learning with practical application. Inspired by a Quaker heritage, the Whittier education equips students to be active citizens and
Applications
- Total Applications: 3,062
- First-Year: 2,740
- Transfer: 322
- Total Admits: 2,408
- First-Year: 2,374
- Transfer: 215
- Total Enrollment: 477
- First-Year: 372
- Transfer: 105
Admitted Student Academic Middle 50% Ranges
- First-Year WC GPA (Grades 9-11, weighted): 3.39-4.0
- First-Year SAT Total: 1190-1400
- First-Year ACT Composite: 24-31
- Test-Optional Admits: 68%
- Transfer GPA: 2.95-3.68
Enrolled Geographic Distribution
- California: 48.9%
- West (excluding California): 10%
- Midwest: 2.5%
- South: 3%
- Mid-Atlantic: 1%
- Northeast: 1.3%
- Outside of US (25 Countries): 34%
Top 10 States
- California
- Washington
- Hawaii
- Nevada
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Oregon
- Texas
- Maryland
By the Numbers
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Founded in 1887
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Located in Whittier, California (18 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles, 16 miles northwest of Anaheim)
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Campus size: over 75 acres
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Undergraduate Enrollment: 1325
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Graduate Enrollment: 62
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Average Classroom Size: 19 students (50% of classes have less than 20)
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Student to Faculty Ratio: 12 to 1
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Race/Ethnicity (IPEDS)*
- American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.2%
- Asian: 5.6%
- Black or African-American: 4.1%
- Latinx: 41.7%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.5%
- White: 20.5%
- Two or more races: 4.2%
- Unknown: 16.5%
- Nonresident/International: 6.6%
Rankings and Recognition
- 24th in top liberal arts college in California for social mobility, U.S. News & World Report
- 39th most transformative college in the nation, Money
- 45th for public service, Washington Monthly
NCAA Affiliation
Division III
Conference
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)
Mascot
Johnny Poet/The Poets
Men’s Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Water Polo
Women’s Sports
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Majors
Anthropology, Applied Philosophy, Art, Biochemistry, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Child Development, Chinese, Economics, English, Environmental Science, Film Studies, French, Global & Cultural Studies, History, Integrated Computer Science, Kinesiology, Mathematics, Mathematics-Business, Mathematics-Economics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychological Sciences, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, Theater & Communication Arts
Minors
Africana & Black Studies, Anthropology, Art History, Studio Art, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Child Development, Chinese, Computer Science, Digital Art & Design, Economics, Elementary Education, English, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Film Studies, French, French Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Global & Cultural Studies, History, Japanese, Kinesiology, Latino Studies, Mathematics, Music, Organizational Leadership, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Public Health, Psychological Sciences, Religious Studies, Scientific Computing, Social Work, Sociology,
Pre-Professional Programs
- 3-2 Engineering (with the University of Southern California)
- Health Sciences Advising Program
- Physical Therapy Advising Program
Whittier Scholars Program
A specialized program that allows students to design a major and select coursework around a particular career path or field of interest. Students in this program are required to complete an off-campus experience, which can be either an internship or a study abroad experience.
PICES Program
A pathway for students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and a teaching credential in K-12 Special Education at the same time within 4 years.