Whittier College

A Top-Ranking Liberal Arts College in Scenic Southern California

Whittier College is a private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Whittier, California. The school -- which has an enrollment of 1,700 students -- offers small class sizes, personalized degree programs, and ample opportunities for real-world learning experiences.

Whittier has earned a reputation for providing a high-quality liberal arts education. The Princeton Review recently named Whittier as one of the country's best institutions for undergraduate education, and it included Whittier in the 2018 edition of "The Best 382 Colleges." Whittier is also among 200 schools listed in "Colleges of Distinction," a national college guidebook that showcases colleges who have engaged students, great teaching, a vibrant community, and successful outcomes.

Whittier College is conveniently located between the vibrant city of Los Angeles and scenic Orange County and just steps away from the fun and friendly walking district of historic Uptown Whittier.  Uptown boasts a variety of wonderful restaurants, coffee houses, shops and a movie theatre. The campus is an eclectic mix of historic architecture and state-of-the art amenities including a 400-seat performing arts center, an art gallery, an outdoor amphitheater, a beautiful library, a 7,000-seat sports stadium with a new track and field, and an aquatics center. The College also recently opened a new Science & Learning Center. 

A Wide Variety of Degree Programs

Students at Whittier College may choose from 30 majors, 37 minors, and three pre-professional programs including anthropology, biology, history, mathematics, pre-medicine political science, economics, English, and business administration.

Whittier College also provides students with opportunities to pursue self-designed majors through its Whittier Scholars Program (WSP). WSP students work closely with faculty members to develop a highly personalized course of study in specific areas of interest. This program culminates in the research, presentation, and defense of senior projects. Approximately 12% of Whittier students participate in WSP.

Liberal Arts the Whittier Way -- At Whittier, we take on the liberal arts in a distinctly West Coast way -- with a fresh eye to how ideas intersect across disciplines. The College places an emphasis on providing students with a truly interdisciplinary liberal arts education. Whittier students are encouraged to think critically and to learn about other perspectives and cultures through cross-curricular courses and experiential learning activities such as internships and study abroad opportunities.

In addition to completing the required coursework for their major, all Whittier students are required to complete six hours of coursework each in the areas of natural science, social science, fine arts, and humanities. Our paired classes help students see the interconnectedness of ideas. Students take at least two paired classes while at Whittier, and in these classes they explore subjects that intersect in provocative ways.

An Emphasis on Writing

All Whittier College students are required to complete several specialized courses designed to help them improve and refine their writing skills.

The required writing coursework begins with a first-year writing seminar and culminates in a paper-in-the-major, which each student completes during his or her senior year of study. The paper-in-the-major, which is developed with the guidance of a faculty member, is often used as a writing sample by students applying to graduate programs.

A Smooth Transition to a Vibrant Academic Community

Whittier provides a wide range of services and programs designed to help new students adjust to college life.

Living learning communities are an integral part of the Poet experience at Whittier College. These communities exist to assist first year students in their transition to college by creating a common experience where students are learning and living in close proximity.  There are communities for arts and entertainment, science and technology as well as gender inclusive housing, pet friendly housing and 24-hour quiet communities. Resident Advisors in these communities intentionally coordinate programs that assist students in their transition to college.

All first-year students also participate in what is called a Linked Course, two courses that have been paired so that students take them together. This is done so that students see one another regularly and share a common intellectual experience. In addition, each student is assigned a faculty mentor and peer/student mentor to provide advising and connect them to the College during the first semester.

Additional activities, such as orientation and pre-orientation also play a key role in ensuring student success.

Exciting Study Abroad Opportunities

Whittier College provides many opportunities for students interested in learning about other cultures. Each student may choose to spend a semester, a year, or a summer living and studying in a variety of locations around the world. Whittier also offers several study abroad opportunities through its faculty led JanTerm and MayTerm programs. The Global Poet Scholarship (GPS) program gives every Whittier student $2,000 to study abroad.

Past and upcoming study abroad opportunities include a course on managing multinational corporations in Mexico; a study of Islamic culture in Morocco; an examination of race, religion, and gender in South America; and an anthropology course in Tanzania.

Internships and Work-Study Programs Provide Valuable, Real-World Experience

Because Whittier College is located within driving distance to Los Angeles and Orange County, students have access to a wide range of prestigious internships with companies in industries ranging from entertainment to business.

Whittier students have completed internships with Sony Pictures, Merrill Lynch, the J. Paul Getty Museum, EMI Music Publishing, New Line Cinema, First Heritage Bank, Southern California Edison, and the US Department of Education.

Students may also choose to gain hands-on work experience through one of Whittier's many partnerships with community and government organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier. Students in fields such as education, child psychology, and social work can participate in work-study programs at the Broadoaks Children's School, Whittier's private, non-profit demonstration school.

Clubs, Sports, and Extracurricular Activities

Students interested in getting involved in extracurricular activities can choose from a wide variety of options. Whittier is home to nearly 100 academic, cultural, political, and general-interest clubs and organizations, as well as several service-oriented fraternities and sororities. The school also has a student newspaper, yearbook, literary magazine, video production studio, and radio station. Through the Leadership Experience and Programs (LEAP) Office, there are opportunities for involvement in student government, community service, and a number of programs dedicated to helping students develop their leadership skills.

Whittier is home to 22 intercollegiate sports teams, including men's and women's basketball, cross country, track and field, swimming and diving, water polo, soccer; lacrosse, golf and tennis. Whittier also offers men's baseball and football and women's volleyball.

Admissions and Fees

Students interested in applying to Whittier College must submit a completed application available at www.commonapp.org, $50 application fee, transcripts, SAT I or ACT scores (test optional for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and higher), personal statement/essay, counselor evaluation, and letter of recommendation from a current or former teacher. Students interested in transferring to Whittier from another college or university must also each submit college transcripts and letters of recommendation from two former or current professors.

Scholarships and financial aid are available, and most Whittier students (over 90%) receive a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans. Students will automatically be considered for a wide range of academic awards when they apply. In addition to this, there are talent scholarships in art, music and theatre that students can pursue without having to major or even minor in those academic disciplines.