Whittier College vs. St. Mary's College

Comparable Facts

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

Saint Mary's College is larger than Whittier College based on total student enrollment (1,601 students vs. 795 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Whittier College is located in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saint Mary's College is in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting).
• Whittier College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Whittier College 8:1; Saint Mary's College 9:1.

Whittier College vs. St. Mary's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Whittier College or St. Mary's 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 Saint Mary's College than Whittier College ($27,865 vs. $28,101).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College are 16.5% lower than at Whittier College ($14,260 vs. $17,082).
• Saint Mary's College is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whittier College (about $1,880 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $51,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at St. Mary's College than at Whittier College (about $1,880 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $51,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at Whittier College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 7.1% larger than aid received by Whittier College students ($38,748 vs. $36,176).

Whittier College vs. St. Mary's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Whittier College or St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's College and Whittier College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Whittier College (1240) is 10 points higher than at St. Mary's College (1230).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Whittier College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Whittier College 1140/1340; Saint Mary's College 1130/1325.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Whittier College 24/30; Saint Mary's College 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Whittier College - Test-free; St. Mary's College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Whittier College (3.61).
• Whittier College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than St. Mary's College (76%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.4% at Whittier College vs. 20.1% at St. Mary's College.

Whittier College vs. St. Mary's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Whittier College and St. Mary's 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's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Whittier College's (55%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Whittier College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whittier College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's College graduates ($25,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Whittier College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's College graduates ($263 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whittier College students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.