Private For-Profit Graduate Good 56/100

Westcliff University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Irvine, California

About Westcliff University

Thinking about Westcliff University, a college in California where more students graduate in Business than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Westcliff University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Irvine, California. It enrolls 2,363 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
73.2%
Graduation
—
Net Price
$35,426
Median Earnings (10yr)
—
Enrollment
2,363
Student : Faculty
10:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic Calendar Other Academic Year

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 48
Value —
Affordability 5
Selectivity 56

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Westcliff University admits 73.2% of applicants, which makes it moderately selective, and realistic if you meet the academic profile.

Acceptance Rate
73.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Westcliff University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective ↓ 44.5 pts since 2019
89.6%201971.6%202065.1%202167.4%202245.1%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $35,426 a year on average, it sits above what private for-profit colleges charge nationally. That is a serious number, so the earnings further down matter more here than usual. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$35,426
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
6%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
6%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$17,670
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,632
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,160
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,210

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $24,253
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $33,829
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $35,913
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $36,031
  • Over $110,000
    $40,799

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$23,750
Median percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,500 ↓ $16,250
No Pell $7,016 ↓ $16,734
Dependent students $6,500 ↓ $17,250
Independent students $15,625 ↓ $8,125
Female students $6,531 ↓ $17,219
Male students $7,500 ↓ $16,250
Pell recipients: 14.8% (3,515 students)No Pell: 13.8% (3,288 students)Dependent students: 12.8% (3,047 students)Independent students: 30.8% (7,323 students)Female students: 12.9% (3,061 students)Male students: 14.8% (3,515 students)Overall Median$23,750
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($23,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

73% come back after first year. A sizeable share do not return for year two. Worth asking why. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 2,363 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled
2,363
Part-Time
32%
First-Generation
—

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
International 9.3% 219
White 5.4% 128
Black 3.4% 80
Other 2.8% 67
Hispanic 2.3% 55
Asian 1.4% 32
International: 9.3% (219 students)White: 5.4% (128 students)Black: 3.4% (80 students)Other: 2.8% (67 students)Hispanic: 2.3% (55 students)Asian: 1.4% (32 students)Total2,363

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Westcliff University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Irvine, California
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
8% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Other Academic Year scheduling structure

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Computer Science graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Westcliff University offers a varied set of programs: 29 distinct programs across 9 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

12 Programs
5 Programs
1 Program
  • Law $143K ($74K–$297K)
2 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

There are 10 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.

Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,740
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

37 instructional faculty across 3 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 24 65% $69,087
Associate Professors 3 8% $72,750
Assistant Professors 10 27% $62,156

Pros & Cons of Westcliff University

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Westcliff University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
CONS
  • High net price compared to most US colleges
  • Modest first-year retention
  • Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
  • For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully

Frequently Asked Questions about Westcliff University

The questions families ask most about Westcliff University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Westcliff University hard to get into?
Admissions at Westcliff University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Westcliff University?
73.2% of applicants are admitted. Most applicants who meet the basic requirements are admitted. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
How much does Westcliff University cost?
Budget around $35,426 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Westcliff University known for?
Mostly Business Administration, Business Administration, Information Systems. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Westcliff University accredited?
Yes. Westcliff University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Westcliff University?
2,363 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Westcliff University a public or private college?
It is Private For-Profit. Private for-profit, so compare completion and earnings carefully against a public alternative.
Where is Westcliff University located?
Westcliff University is located in Irvine, California.
What programs does Westcliff University offer?
29 different programs, most commonly Business Administration, Business Administration, Information Systems. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Westcliff University?
10 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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