UC Berkeley vs. Westmont College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA with Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Berkeley is larger than Westmont College based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 1,310 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Westmont College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westmont College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; Westmont College 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmont College are 28.6% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($16,960 vs. $23,750).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Westmont College than at University of California Berkeley (about $3,037 more per year; $53,584 vs. $50,547).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmont College than at University of California Berkeley (100% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westmont College students is 31.6% larger than aid received by University of California Berkeley students ($38,956 vs. $29,608).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at UC Berkeley than at Westmont College (32 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Berkeley, test optional at Westmont College.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Berkeley average a 3.87 high school GPA, 0.28 higher than at Westmont College (3.59).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 15.9% at Westmont College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $10,923 lower median loan debt than Westmont College graduates ($14,200 vs. $25,123).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Westmont College graduates ($146 vs. $259).
• More Westmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Berkeley students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 79%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.