Whittier College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Whittier College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 76%. Located near Los Angeles in Whittier, California, Whittier College was founded by Quakers in 1887, but has been secular since the 1940s. Whittier students can choose from 32 majors, and the most popular fields span the liberal arts and sciences. Academics are supported by a 12-to-1 student / faculty ratio. Student life is active with over 80 clubs and organizations. On the athletic front, the Whittier Poets compete in the NCAA Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).

Considering applying to Whittier College? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, Whittier College had an acceptance rate of 76%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 76 students were admitted, making Whittier's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Whittier College has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Whittier may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. Note that students with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or lower who apply test-optional may be required to provide standardized test scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 74% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2017-18 admissions cycle, most of Whittier College's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Whittier scored between 520 and 613, while 25% scored below 520 and 25% scored above 613. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 510 and 600, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 600. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1210 or higher is competitive for Whittier College.

Read More

Occidental College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

By Allen Grove

Requirements

Whittier College does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Whittier College participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Whittier does not require the essay section of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Whittier has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Whittier may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. Note that students with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or lower who apply test-optional may be required to provide standardized test scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 35% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2017-18 admissions cycle, most of Whittier College's admitted students fall within the top 48% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Whittier received a composite ACT score between 20 and 25, while 25% scored above 25 and 25% scored below 20.

Requirements

Note that Whittier does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, Whittier College participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Whittier does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

Whittier College does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Whittier College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Whittier College, which accepts just over three-quarters of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool. However, Whittier also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Whittier encourages applicants to visit campus, take a campus tour, and meet with an admissions counselor. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Whittier College's average range.

In the graph above, the green and blue data points represent students who were admitted to Whittier College. Accepted students tend to have combined SAT scores (ERW+M) of 950 or higher, an ACT composite score of 18 or higher, and an unweighted high school grade point average of a "B" or better. Whittier is test-optional, so grades and other elements of the application are more important than test scores in the admission process.

If You Like Whittier College, You May Also Like These Schools

• Occidental College
• Chapman University
• University of La Verne
• Pepperdine University
• University of Southern California
• University of San Diego
• Loyola Marymount University
• CSU Long Beach
• CSU Fullerton
• UC Irvine

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Whittier College Undergraduate Admissions Office.