Menlo vs. Whittier College

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, CA with Whittier College in Whittier, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Menlo College is larger than Whittier College based on total student enrollment (810 students vs. 795 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); Whittier College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Whittier College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; Whittier College 8:1.

Menlo vs. Whittier College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo or Whittier College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Whittier College than Menlo ($28,101 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whittier College are 6.3% lower than at Menlo College ($17,082 vs. $18,236).
• Menlo College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whittier College (about $2,280 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $51,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Menlo than at Whittier College (about $2,280 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $51,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College than at Whittier College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 8.3% larger than aid received by Whittier College students ($39,174 vs. $36,176).

Menlo vs. Whittier College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo or Whittier College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Whittier College and Menlo.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWhittier College 1140/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWhittier College 24/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; Whittier College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Whittier College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• Whittier College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 5.4% at Whittier College.

Menlo vs. Whittier College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo and Whittier College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Whittier College's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from Menlo College earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Whittier College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Menlo College graduates have a $4,438 lower median loan debt than Whittier College graduates ($21,062 vs. $25,500).
• Among borrowers, Menlo graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whittier College graduates ($217 vs. $263).
• More Whittier College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.