Founded in 1937, Westmont College. is a Private college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 1,277 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.
The Westmont College Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 12:1. There are 94 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Westmont College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
82%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
50
SAT Range
1040-1280
ACT Range
23-29
Admissions at WC are considered Less Selective, with ,33% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 17 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
94% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 72% were in the top quarter, and 40% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Westmont College.
72 Students rated on-campus housing 4 stars. 24 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
60 Students rated off-campus housing 2.8 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
73 Students rated campus food 3.1 stars. 4 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
73 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 36 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
72 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 76 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
71 Students rated school activities 4.2 stars. 46 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
71 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
73 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 51 % gave the school a 5.0.
Westmont College REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Westmont College?
20 Students rated Westmont College
Madison
From the moment I set foot on campus I fell in love with the school. The admissions office was always available to answer all my questions and walk me through the whole process of applying and being accepted. I felt safe on campus immediately after visiting.
Kyle
Westmont College is a tight-knit community that offers students the chance to grow spiritually and academically. Most classes I attended had twenty students or less and every professor I interacted with was kind, attentive, and concerned about students' well-being. Westmont is a predominantly White institution and at times I felt like freedom of expression was limited, but overall, I hold Westmont in high regard. The campus is safe, the dining hall has solid food, and the classes are intellectually stimulating.
Benjamin
If you are looking for a small school of about (1,400) students and one that is Evangelical Christian, then this school is for you. For me, my application to Westmont was a last-minute decision mainly because they claimed they were going to stay in-person for instruction during the pandemic. For the most part, it was, and I have been very happy with the quality of my classes throughout my time here. Small class sizes and directly involved teachers make learning much more worthwhile and challenging, it genuinely feels like they want you to learn. It is my biggest praise for Westmont, although the list isn't long. Because they are so small, they may only offer a certain class in one semester per year, so you do have to carefully plan your course.
However, with most other aspects of the campus, I have not been too impressed. Cafeteria food is decent, but the serving hours and maintenance during food rushes are not adequate. Sometimes dinner stops being served at 7, and I have missed some mealtimes entirely. On weekends their serving schedule is reduced even further. The on-campus health clinic operates weekdays from 9-3, which is also during a lot of scheduled classes, and they turn you away if you do not make an appointment. Dorm rooms are a main complaint of mine. Housing for newer students is very old, most buildings do not have AC, there is always some issue with the bathrooms, and I couldn't tell you how old the carpets are. An issue this year I have had is that some dorm rooms in my residence hall were remodeled after a fire and do have working AC units while mine does not. My room has stayed very warm making me get heat rashes and was impossible to sleep in for several nights. Students who got lucky got rooms with AC, and I asked the housing department why it is fair that I am paying the same amount for fewer amenities while they are using way more energy. The response was that they acknowledge amenities in housing are varied throughout the campus, but they do not base fees on that. I was hoping for a possible fee reduction, but all their advice given to me was to use fans.
Kassandra
Westmont College is an amazing school with a very supportive and kind community. They accel in academics and have amazing programs, particularly in Pre-Medicine and Kinesiology programs. They have great athletic opportunities, with several varsity and recreational sports to join. Plus, they are not very far from downtown Santa Barbara and the beach. The Montecito area is a very safe place to live.
Ariadne
I love it! It’s amazing! The people are amazing! My professors are amazing! And the view is beautiful! All over all you learn to grow spiritual and in life and you stretch your mind in many different ways! You make many connections and many of your life long friends!
Morgan
Great all-around school. Wonderful academics, professors challenge and genuinely care about you, incredibly nice student body and you are really pushed outside your limits. Also, can’t beat Santa Barbara. Really can’t beat this experience to challenge and grow in your faith.
Alesha
Westmont is a great Christian liberal arts college. The people you meet here are amazing individuals. The academics can be challenging at times, but the class sizes and availability of the professors, make it worth your while. Also, although Westmont does not have greek life, our student life organizations make student life at Westmont just as exciting. I recommend visiting for yourself!
Giovanna
I believe Westmont College is a beautiful place to study and learn more about what you are passionate about. The students are encouraging and helpful. The professors are well-equipped, supportive and almost always available. There are many facilities, and the ratio from student to professor is perfect. Westmont College is an amazing place to build a strong community and get involved in fun extracurricular activities. As an incoming freshman, I am excited to experience life at college in the most beautiful place in California.
Abi
I am amazed by the community here. I think what makes Westmont College such an influential place to live and learn is the fact that the professors live on campus and are so intentional about community. I am also in love with the surrounding area- beaches, hiking trails, everything!
Andrea
Westmont is an extremely unique school - being a liberal arts college there's a focus on broadening general knowledge and develop general intellectual capacities & learning about multiple fields of study rather than limiting our focus on one. The professors are always available and willing to answer any and all questions. It is a Christian college and very pushy about that (sometimes the students can be closed off to other religions). It's also lacking in diversity.
John
I don't recommend this school. I graduated from this school and realized very quickly upon entering the work world that my degree not only had very little value but that it was worth less than other state and private schools. The alumni association is small to non-existent. The school allows approximately 1200 students at a time, that means roughly 300 graduate a year. Given a span of 40 years with 300 people graduating a year that means the ENTIRE alumni association is 12,000 individuals. This is a pittance compared to larger schools with more resources for students looking to help their soon to graduate alumni associates. Further, this school isn't a place for students to find who they are as individuals, it's an extension of high school youth group. There are many conversations that are not allowed if they don't fit within the Christian narrative. College is four years you can't get back. Go somewhere with better student resources, larger class sizes, and a body of people who are looking to push each other by providing critical debate about relevant topics.
Grace
I am not currently enrolled but I am committed to attending in the fall and I am beyond excited to be apart of the Westmont community. I love the small school feel and welcoming atmosphere. Growing up in a Christian environment, I longed to find an atmosphere that fit who I was spiritually. Westmont is not some puritan, judgmental Christian academy; it is invested in letting you know that God loves you, and challenges each individual to be the best version of themselves.
Nathaniel
Westmont College is a fantastic place to grow as a scholar and Christian. I love the "liberal arts moments" that happen here, when I make connections between things I've learned in very different classes. My freshman year, we discussed some of the same issues in my chemistry, biology, philosophy, and New Testament classes! The professors are so helpful and available, and they really work with you if you are having a hard time. Also, the location is gorgeous. Full disclosure, there have been some recent natural disasters (a large forest fire that late caused mudslides) that have hit the community hard this year and forced us to evacuate a couple of times. Through all of this, though, the administration has made the right decisions to keep us safe and on track with our learning, and Santa Barbara remains a gorgeous place to live.
Julia
It was a very good school but definitely too silent on issues happening outside of Westmont that it became like a bubble. The campus rarely has any kind of protests, doesn't address big events that has happened, e.g. our campus was silent when Donald Trump was elected president, and there needs to be more work towards more diversity-- recruiting more students of color and hiring faculty and staff of color.
Rennie
I am a sophomore at Westmont and I have been extremely pleased with my experience thus far. Westmont has been my top college all throughout my college search, and I am so glad that I decided to come to Westmont. They have amazing financial aid, professors, and students, and I always feel safe on campus. I have also enjoyed the liberal arts experience because it makes me feel like I am making the most of my college education.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Westmont College is 82%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
I attended three different high schools starting my freshman year, before I found the one that would be home for the final two years of my high school days. A lot of students experience only one school for all four years, not that this is a bad thing, but I experienced a unique opportunity to figure out what type of school I enjoyed. I ended up going from a public high school my freshman year, to a charter school, to a private homeschool my junior and senior year. My graduating class had gone from 500 to 12 within that four year span, and I loved it. The smaller community was something I thrived in. I was friends with everyone in my class and all of us were really close, like a family. I don't regret anything about my transitions from school to school, but I do regret not spending more time on scholarships and studying for the SAT exam. Westmont College is expensive and I know I should have had more forthought when applying to such an expensive school. Luckily, I was able to complete my freshman year and now I'm focused on applying for those scholarships!
It is a great school that is filled with great people. Everyone is really friendly, and the teachers are much more helpful than they would be if this was a larger school. The Christian atmosphere is very welcoming, and the class sizes are small, so you feel like an important part of the class instead of one among the masses.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
A person who wants the "party life"- the kind with drugs and alcohol. We drink tea and smoke- thats about how crazy it gets. Westmont is a very mellow, down to earth, and relaxed school.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
I greatly enjoyed the sense of community amongst the faculty, staff, and students at Westmont College. Most of the class sizes are relatively small, so there were many opportunities to connect with faculty members and receive any necessary support. Also, the faculty members are very supportive and are interested in mentoring you and helping you grow academically, personally, and spiritually. Additionally, I could not have asked for a more beautiful location or more perfect weather for my undergraduate studies!
One of the best things about Westmont is its size. With just under two thousand students, the majority of which live on campus, a high sense of community is fostered and enjoyed by professors and students.
Small, interconnected, and highly social, Westmont is not everyone's cup of tea. At times it feels a little confining, and it can be challenging to find alone time, whether for independent study or a needed social break. However, a few moments of claustrophobia in the "Westmont bubble" are worth the pay off of a tight-knit student body, with professors who genuinely care about their students.
Westmont is academically challenging. High standards in and out of the classroom are established and expected by all professors. Small class sizes (10-50 students, depending on the course) allow for ample discussion and individual attention, and a wide variety of courses are offered within each major. Both professors and advisors help students tailor their area of study to personal preferences and interests.
Westmont also has a multitude of off-campus programs, linking with colleges around the nation to send students to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
For a small college, Westmont is also located in a small city. Santa Barbara provides a beautiful and active seaside community, which is accessible to students by shuttle. Activities range from beach volleyball and bike riding to shopping on State Street or volunteering to feed the homeless.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
95% of students attending Westmont College receive some sort of financial aid.
18% were awarded federal grants.83%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
