Saint Mary's College of California vs. Whittier College

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA with Whittier College in Whittier, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College of California is larger than Whittier College based on total student enrollment (2,734 students vs. 795 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Whittier College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Whittier College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; Whittier College 8:1.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Whittier College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's College of California 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($28,101 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whittier College are 2.9% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($17,082 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 12.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whittier College (about $6,453 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $51,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at Whittier College (about $6,453 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $51,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at Whittier College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 17.2% larger than aid received by Whittier College students ($42,407 vs. $36,176).

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Whittier College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's College of California 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 Saint Mary's College of California.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Whittier College (1240) is 80 points higher than at Saint Mary's College of California (1160).
• Incoming Whittier College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at Saint Mary's College of California).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; Whittier College 1140/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; Whittier College 24/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; Whittier College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Whittier College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Whittier College (80.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California vs. 5.4% at Whittier College.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Whittier College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Whittier College's (55%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $19,400 more per year than Whittier College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Whittier College graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,500).
• Among borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whittier College graduates ($258 vs. $263).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whittier College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 69%)

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.