Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Seattle U UW-Seattle PLU La Verne George Fox University University of Redlands Whitworth University Azusa Pacific University Western Washington University Central Washington University Washington State UWB| Whittier College | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Whittier College | SPU | ||
| Location | Whittier, CA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 859 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #246 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | whittier.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Whittier College | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $48,924 | $37,965 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $48,924 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,623 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $32,436 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,008 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
Whittier College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,797 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 2,388 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.4% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 6.1% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.61 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 24/30 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1340 | 1050/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
Whittier College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Whittier College | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,400 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,500 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $263 | $264 |
Diversity |
Whittier College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 3% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 31% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 44% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 8% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Whittier College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Whittier College | SPU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Whittier College based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 859 students)
Whittier College vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Whittier College or SPU?
- Whittier College is 28.9% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($48,924.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.9% higher at Whittier College than Seattle Pacific University ($48,924.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than Whittier College ($26,155 vs. $32,436)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Seattle Pacific University are 0.8% lower than costs at Whittier College ($15,498 vs. $15,623)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Whittier College than Seattle Pacific University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Whittier College students is 14% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($32,008 vs. $28,070)
Whittier College vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Whittier College or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Whittier College .
- The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 88 points higher than at Whittier College (1057)
- Incoming SPU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Whittier College (23)
- Accepted freshman Whittier College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Whittier College (85.4%)
Whittier College vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Whittier College or SPU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SPU and Whittier College.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Whittier College (74% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $3,000 more per year than Whittier College graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $47,400)
- Whittier College students graduate with a $103 lower median federal student loan debt than SPU graduates. ($25,500 vs. $25,603)
- Whittier College graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than SPU graduates. ($263 vs. $264)
- More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whittier College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/