About College Profile

Westmont College, a Christian liberal arts institution in Santa Barbara, California, fosters a community of academic excellence, faith-based leadership, and global engagement. With a strong commitment to cultivating thoughtful scholars and compassionate leaders, Westmont offers a wide range of undergraduate programs, diverse extracurricular opportunities, and off-campus experiences worldwide. Known for its rigorous academics, vibrant campus life, and dedication to service, the college ranks among the top liberal arts institutions in the nation, preparing students to impact the world through faith and intellectual inquiry.

Mission

Westmont College is an undergraduate, residential, Christian, liberal arts community serving God’s kingdom by cultivating thoughtful scholars, grateful servants and faithful leaders for global engagement with the academy, church and world.

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Our Commitment to Diversity

First-Year Class Profile

Westmont's class of 2025 is one of the most academically talented and racially diverse. The first-year students earned an average high school GPA of 3.98 and average SAT score of 1260 with a middle range of 1140-1380. The class includes 74 top-achieving Augustinian Scholars, who received academic scholarships ranging from $28,000 to $40,333. Each year, more than 95 percent of entering first-year students earn four-year academic scholarships ranging from $15,000 to $40,333.

Nearly 40 percent of the new students identify as Hispanic, Asian American, African American, Hawaiian Pacific Islander, Native American, and/or multiracial. Twenty-three students have spent two or more years living abroad, and 15 are international students, one of the largest cohorts in college history.

National Ranking

Westmont remains in the top tier of National Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2022 U.S. News and World Report rankings tied at No. 114. Westmont improved its percentage of classes under 20 and under 50. Westmont’s Student Excellence Score, which includes SAT/ACT standardized tests and high school class standing, jumped 13 points from last year.

Academic Program

Westmont offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in 30 liberal arts majors, 11 pre-professional programs, an elementary and secondary credential program, and up to 12 units for internships and practica. Explore our majors, minors, and pre-professional programs.

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Off-Campus Programs

Students may attend semester-long programs in San Francisco, Europe, England, Mexico, Washington, D.C., Costa Rica, Africa and Israel or visit one of the 12 other colleges in the Christian College Consortium for a semester. Professors also lead a variety of summer programs overseas.

Beyond the Classroom

Student musicians perform with vocal and instrumental ensembles. The Westmont Classical Repertory Theatre presents two productions each year. Senior art majors exhibit their work in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art at the end of the year. Students may choose to participate in the Westmont Leadership Development Program. Seven national academic honor societies recognize outstanding students.

Community Service

Students are actively involved in the life of the community as volunteers, employees, and interns for a wide variety of businesses and organizations. They serve more than 30 student-run ministries on and off campus. During spring break, several hundred students travel to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Ensenada to join local churches, organizations, and ministries in their service to these communities.

Athletics

Many students compete in the extensive intramural program and 15 intercollegiate sports: basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, tennis, cross-country, and track for men; and basketball, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, cross-country, and track for women. Westmont has won nine National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championships and 99 Golden State Athletic Conference titles.

Financial Aid

A comprehensive financial aid program includes all state and federal grant and loan programs, scholarships, funds for Westmont loans, grants, and scholarships, and part-time work on and off campus. More than 80 percent of students receive financial aid.

Gift Support

Thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and businesses, the College Advancement Office raises money each year for the Westmont Fund, which supports annual operating expenses such as student scholarships, operations, facilities, and special programs.

Donors who give $1,000 or more to Westmont on a yearly basis become members of The President's Associates. For more information about this program, please call Jonathan Thomas at (805) 565-6848.

Individuals who remember the college in their will or estate qualify for the Wallace Emerson Society. Learn more about this group from Steve Davis at (805) 565-6883.

Westmont relies on gifts to close the gap between what it actually costs to educate each student and what the college charges in tuition and fees. Historically, this gap has totaled just over $2,000 per student each year, requiring Westmont to provide more than $2.6 million in additional income. For more information about giving opportunities, contact Reed Sheard, vice president for college advancement, at (805) 565-7171.

Creative and Performing Arts Events

The new Westmont Museum of Art hosts exhibits by prominent artists. (805) 565-6162. Student musical ensembles and faculty musicians perform a variety of concerts. (805) 565-6040.

The Westmont College Repertory Theatre presents productions in the fall and the spring. (805) 565-6040.

Chapel/
Convocation and Lectures

Visit Chapel/Convocation during the school year (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30 to 11:20 a.m. in Murchison Gym). (805) 565-6170.

Erasmus Society Lectures bring leading scholars to campus. (805) 565-7057.

Sports Events

Watch the Westmont Warriors compete in exciting NAIA contests in 15 sports. (805) 565-6010.

Families and individuals can join Westmont's summer swim and tennis club. (805) 565-6010.

Children in grades three through eight can attend Westmont Warrior Summer Sports Camps. (805) 565-6010.

Area residents are welcome to run on the track at any time and use the pool for a modest fee. (805) 565-6010.