Whittier College vs Menlo College
Whittier College and Menlo College, both located in California, offer distinct educational experiences. Whittier College, a private liberal arts college, boasts a lower acceptance rate (58%) compared to Menlo College's (75%). Whittier's student body is more diverse, with 49% identifying as students of color, while Menlo's student body is predominantly White (63%). In terms of academics, Whittier offers a wider range of majors, including popular choices like psychology, business, and biology, while Menlo focuses on business, psychology, and computer science. With a higher graduation rate (75%) compared to Menlo's (68%), Whittier may be a better choice for students seeking a traditional liberal arts education and a diverse campus community. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which college aligns best with your academic goals and preferences.
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![]() Menlo College |
![]() Whittier College |
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Overview |
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Location | Atherton, California | Whittier, California |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 71.0% | 82.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 69.8% | 82.5% |
Application fees | $40 |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$70
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SAT range | N/A | 1120 - 1340 |
ACT range | N/A | 23 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 11.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 9.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,134 | 2,884 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,489 | 2,379 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 148 | 277 |
Yield rate | 9.9% | 11.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $62,546 | $61,014 |
Average net price | $35,658 | $22,091 |
Tuition | $46,625 | $48,924 |
Room & board | $15,990 |
Room/dormitory:
$8,216
Meal plan:
$6,756
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $29,409 |
97.0%
Average amount $32,645 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,410 |
65.0%
Average amount $5,040 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $20,007 |
6.0%
Average amount $17,379 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
745
Men 54.4% Women 45.6% |
1,325
Men 43.7% Women 56.3% |
Graduate students | N/A |
62
Men 25.8% Women 74.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 19.1% | 6.3% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 565 | 849 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 55.0% | 63.6% |
Dropout rate | 45.0% | 3.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 31.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Law (First Professional Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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