Westmont College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Santa Barbara, California. It enrolls 1,302 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes78
Value29
Affordability18
Selectivity66
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.1%, Westmont College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1240 – 1450
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Westmont College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
15.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Westmont College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,053 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,053
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
51%
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
$53,584
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,960
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,275
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,750
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,150
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
$20,899
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,492
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,867
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,524
Over $110,000
$38,124
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$8,50025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%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 $19,500
↓ $3,750
No Pell $18,030
↓ $5,220
Female students $19,259
↓ $3,991
Male students $19,250
↓ $4,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
74% of full-time students who enrolled at Westmont College graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
74%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Westmont College earn a median of $64,778 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$64,778
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$67,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,700, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Westmont College is home to 1,302 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,302
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
17%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 51.5%671
Hispanic 23.4%304
Other 9.6%125
Asian 5.3%69
Black 2.6%34
International 1.8%23
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Westmont College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbSanta Barbara, California
Housing
Strongly residential1,207 beds for 1,302 students
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Westmont College offers
a varied set of programs:
27 distinct programs across
19 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Westmont College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$238M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$96,210
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
102 instructional faculty across 4 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
45
44%
$110,972
Associate Professors
26
25%
$90,566
Assistant Professors
26
25%
$80,640
Instructors
5
5%
$77,430
Pros & Cons of Westmont College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Westmont College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Westmont College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Westmont College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Westmont College.
Is Westmont College hard to get into?
Westmont College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Westmont College?
Westmont College has an acceptance rate of 77.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Westmont College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Westmont College scored between 1240 and 1450 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Westmont College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Westmont College scored between 25 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Westmont College cost?
The average net price after aid at Westmont College is $29,053 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Westmont College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $64,778 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,053 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Westmont College known for?
Westmont College is best known for its programs in Business Statistics, Kinesiology, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Westmont College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Westmont College are $64,778, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Westmont College accredited?
Yes. Westmont College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Westmont College?
Westmont College enrolls 1,302 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Westmont College?
Westmont College graduates 74% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Westmont College a public or private college?
Westmont College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Westmont College located?
Westmont College is located in Santa Barbara, California.
What programs does Westmont College offer?
Westmont College offers 27 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Statistics, Kinesiology, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Westmont College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Westmont College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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