Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California · Private Nonprofit · 77.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Westmont College, a selective Christian liberal-arts college in Santa Barbara, scores 65 - comfortably in the Fair Value tier. The fundamentals are strong across the board: completion is 70.4% (sub-score 79), three-year repayment is 86.3% (sub-score 88), and the payback period is just 8.6 years (sub-score 71). Earnings of $38,600 at six years climb sharply to $64,778 by ten years, reflecting graduates moving into established Southern California careers. Median debt of $23,250 against those earnings produces a 0.602 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 50). Sticker tuition is steep at $53,584, but net price is $29,053 - substantial institutional discounting averages 46%. Four-year cost is $116,212. The 20% Pell rate reflects a mostly upper-middle-class student body. With 1,302 students, Westmont delivers a small-college residential experience with strong outcomes in business information systems, computer/IS, communications, and a notable biology program (graduates earning $75K+ at year four). The financial case works - this is one of the more defensible small-private Christian liberal-arts buys.
Westmont College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $53,584/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $53,584/yr |
| Average net price | $29,053/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $116,212 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,778 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,302 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $53,584/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,053/year, or roughly $116,212 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $20,899/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $38,124/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,600) and comes to 0.60, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,899 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,492 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,867 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,524 |
| $110,001+ | $38,124 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $20,899 net - well below the $29,053 average. Four-year cost is around $83,600, against $64,778 in 10-year median earnings. The math is reasonable for low-income families: aid reduces price substantially, and the mid-career earnings curve is strong enough to justify the spend over time.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $19,867 net - notably, the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually pays $15,492 (less than the under-$30K bracket's $20,899). This is an aid-policy quirk where middle-low income families capture the most aid-per-dollar; an unusual but documented pattern. Four-year cost at middle-income brackets is around $79,500-$83,500.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $24,524, jumping sharply to $38,124 for $110,000+ families. This is a substantial gap - net price increases by $13,600 between upper-middle and high-income brackets. Four-year cost at the top tier exceeds $152,000. For high-income families this is essentially full-pay liberal-arts; the value proposition depends on mission fit, Santa Barbara location, and Westmont's strong career outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Westmont College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Information Systems | $84,815 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $56,878 | D |
| Biology | $75,889 | D |
| Psychology | $45,455 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $62,535 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $83,026 | - |
| English Language and Literature | $58,459 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $61,939 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Information Systems
Business Information Systems is Westmont's largest program at 60 graduates earning $54,457 in year one and $84,815 by year four against $25,000 debt - a 0.459 ratio (C+ grade). The MIS-heavy curriculum positions students for both business and IT career paths effectively.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences produces 19 graduates with $83,026 in year-one earnings - the highest of any program. Median debt is not reported. A small but powerful pipeline.
Biology
Biology produces 38 graduates earning $30,635 in year one but jumping to $75,889 by year four against $23,250 debt (0.759 ratio, D grade). The dramatic four-year earnings climb signals that most graduates continue to medical, dental, PA, or grad school and capture professional earnings. The year-one number reflects the standard pre-medical earnings gap.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology produces 42 graduates earning $27,708 in year one and $56,878 by year four against $24,250 debt (0.875 ratio, D grade). Like other kinesiology programs nationally, this is a pre-professional feeder to PT, OT, DPT, and athletic training credentials. The four-year climb reflects graduates capturing professional licensure.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies produces 24 graduates earning $41,225 in year one and $62,535 by year four against $23,250 debt (0.564 ratio, C grade).
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 93.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Westmont College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 77.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 610-700 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 630-750 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-32 |
| Enrollment | 1,302 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,166 |
Westmont admits 77.1% of applicants - moderately selective. SAT mid-ranges (Math 610-700, Reading 630-750) and ACT 25-32 reflect a genuinely strong academic profile. The 70.4% completion rate aligns with that academic preparation. Prepared applicants will find Westmont accessible; the school does the academic-preparation-to-completion work well.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Westmont's score is 65, and its completion, repayment, and mid-career earnings curves are strong.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westmont College (this school) | 65 | $29,053 | $64,778 |
| Calvin University | 65 | $22,992 | $58,375 |
| John Brown University | 64 | $20,397 | $53,907 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | 64 | $29,822 | $67,725 |
| Samford University | 62 | $32,622 | $58,469 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 62 | $22,866 | $59,986 |
Who Thrives Here
Westmont fits academically prepared Christian students drawn to a 1,302-student liberal-arts environment in Santa Barbara. Pell rate of 20% indicates a mostly upper-middle-class student body capable of substantial out-of-pocket investment. Strongest outcomes appear in business information systems, computer/IS, and pre-professional biology tracks. The Santa Barbara coastal location and small-college mentorship are core to the value proposition. Best fit: students with strong academic credentials, Christian faith alignment, and financial resources or strong merit-aid qualifications. Not a good fit for pure-ROI optimizers.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Westmont College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $29,053 a year after aid ($116,212 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $64,778 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 70.3% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Westmont College: Common Questions
Is Westmont College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Westmont College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 65/100 on our ROI scale. At $29,053 a year after aid ($116,212 over four years) against $64,778 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Westmont College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $29,053 a year, or roughly $116,212 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Westmont College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,778 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,978 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Westmont College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.6 years for Westmont College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Westmont College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $38,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Westmont College?
The six-year graduation rate is 70.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.