Acceptance Rate
77%
Avg. SAT
1450
75th percentile
“Faith-infused liberal arts college on a hillside overlooking Santa Barbara's Pacific shores.”
Santa Barbara, CA
Location
Midsize Suburb
Campus Setting
Westmont College traces its roots to 1937, when the Bible Institute of Los Angeles established it as a junior college before it moved to Santa Barbara in 1940 for a quieter setting amid rolling hills. Today, it enrolls about 1,300 undergraduates in a tight-knit community where Christian faith integrates deeply with every aspect of campus life, from required chapel attendance to an honor code guiding daily conduct. Students who thrive here commit to evangelical Protestant values, seek personalized mentorship, and embrace a deliberate pace of personal growth alongside academics.
The college's personality radiates warmth and intentionality, fostering lifelong bonds in small groups and service projects. Santa Barbara surrounds it with mild Mediterranean weather, pristine beaches, and hiking trails in the Santa Ynez Mountains, but you'll face steep living costs in this affluent coastal enclave—expect rents and meals adding thousands to annual expenses. Tradeoffs include a narrower range of majors due to the small size and a faith-centered environment that demands alignment with biblical principles, potentially limiting appeal for those preferring secular or large-scale diversity.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Westmont's classrooms, you'll join seminars capped at 20 students where professors, many with PhDs from top universities, weave Christian worldview into discussions on everything from Shakespeare to stem cells. The college shines in biology, psychology, music, and business programs, with undergrads tackling research in marine science labs overlooking the ocean or composing pieces for the college orchestra. Intellectual life buzzes through honors programs and interdisciplinary courses like environmental studies that leverage the coastal location.
Expect hands-on learning with faculty who know your name, though introductory science labs fill quickly and popular majors like kinesiology draw competitive applicants. The undergraduate focus means abundant research slots but no graduate distractions, creating a pure liberal arts vibe. Tradeoffs involve occasional large lectures in gen-ed courses and fewer specialized tracks compared to bigger schools.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,302 undergrad • 8 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
52%
Black / African American
2%
Hispanic / Latino
23%
Asian
6%
Other / Multi-racial
16%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Santa Barbara, CA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Campus life at Westmont revolves around community worship, three weekly chapels, and traditions like the candlelit Christmas service where students in robes fill Voskuyl Chapel with song. A typical week mixes morning classes, afternoon intramurals or beach volleyball, Bible studies, and evenings in dorm lounges planning service trips. Residential life mandates living on campus for freshmen and sophomores, with suite-style housing encouraging close friendships amid ocean breezes.
The social scene stays wholesome, emphasizing coffeehouse concerts, hiking clubs, and mission outreaches over rowdy parties, though some students venture to Santa Barbara's State Street for live music. You'll enjoy year-round outdoor pursuits, but the dry climate demands hydration, and high local costs push many toward campus meal plans. Overall, expect a supportive, low-drama vibe that suits introverts and extroverts alike, tempered by rules limiting alcohol and dancing.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Pacific West Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$27,137
$30K – $48K
$20,857
$48K – $75K
$26,515
$75K – $110K
$26,688
$110K+
$37,596
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
85%
4 Years Graduation Rate
71%
6 Years Graduation Rate
75%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$64,778
85% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Westmont College and return in the fall. 71% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 75% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
71%
4-6 years
4%
Non-grad
25%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$48,840
Acceptance
77%
Undergrads
1,302
4-Year Grad Rate
71%
Endowment
$100M
Santa Barbara, CA 93108-1089