Students at Westmont College achieve earnings that place the institution among the top 15% nationally for return on investment, demonstrating that small liberal arts colleges can deliver strong financial outcomes.
The combination of personalized education, tight alumni networks, and strategic program offerings creates career advantages that translate into solid long-term earnings for graduates.
Westmont College is a small private nonprofit institution in Santa Barbara, California, that delivers strong long-term earnings outcomes despite its liberal arts focus and modest size. With graduates earning a median of $64,778 ten years after enrollment, Westmont ranks in the 86th percentile nationally for return on investment among all colleges and universities. The college serves a relatively affluent student body, with only 19% of students receiving Pell Grants and 17% being first-generation college students.
What distinguishes Westmont is its ability to produce solid financial outcomes through a combination of strong alumni networks, personalized career guidance, and strategic program offerings in business and professional fields. The college's small size—graduating fewer than 200 students annually across all programs—creates intensive mentorship opportunities and tight-knit professional connections that often translate into career advantages.
As a Christian liberal arts college, Westmont attracts students who value faith integration with academics, but the institution's financial outcomes suggest it successfully prepares graduates for competitive careers beyond traditional ministry or nonprofit work. The Santa Barbara location provides access to both California's diverse economy and the college's established alumni network throughout the region.
Westmont's program portfolio reflects its small scale and liberal arts mission, with Business and Managerial Economics emerging as the clear standout for both enrollment and financial outcomes. With 54 graduates earning a median of $53,775, this program generates the strongest aggregate return and demonstrates how focused professional preparation can succeed within a liberal arts framework. Exercise Science and Kinesiology represents the college's largest program by enrollment with 34 graduates, though early-career earnings of $24,808 reflect the field's typically modest starting salaries.
The limited program diversity—fewer than a dozen distinct majors produce meaningful graduate cohorts—means students have fewer options than at comprehensive universities, but the programs offered tend to connect well with career pathways that provide steady middle-class earnings. Westmont's approach emphasizes depth over breadth, with intensive mentorship and career preparation that helps graduates maximize their potential within their chosen fields.
As a small institution graduating fewer than 200 students annually across all programs, Westmont creates opportunities for personalized career guidance and tight alumni networks that larger institutions cannot match. This scale enables faculty and career services staff to work closely with individual students, helping them navigate career transitions and leverage the college's established professional connections throughout California and beyond.
Westmont College graduates achieve strong long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $64,778 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the top 15% nationally for return on investment. This performance is particularly notable for a small liberal arts college, where earnings often lag behind larger universities with extensive professional programs. The college's 93% loan repayment rate demonstrates that graduates generally earn enough to service their educational debt successfully.
Business and Managerial Economics stands out as Westmont's highest-return program, with 54 graduates earning a median of $53,775 and generating the strongest aggregate economic impact for the institution. Exercise Science and Kinesiology represents the largest program by enrollment with 34 graduates, though earnings in this field are more modest at $24,808 early in career. The college's limited program portfolio means students have fewer options than at larger institutions, but the programs offered tend to connect well with career pathways that provide steady, middle-class earnings.
Westmont's small scale creates advantages in career preparation and professional networking that help explain its strong return on investment. With fewer than 200 total graduates annually, students receive intensive career counseling and benefit from close alumni networks that facilitate job placement and career advancement. The college's location in Santa Barbara provides access to California's diverse economy while maintaining the intimate educational environment that characterizes successful small colleges.
Affordability represents Westmont College's most significant challenge, with the institution ranking in just the 11th percentile nationally for affordability. Low-income families face net prices around $24,220 annually, while middle-income families pay approximately $24,081—both figures that are substantially higher than typical public university costs. High-income families see net prices climb to $39,455, reflecting the college's limited ability to provide need-based aid across all income levels.
The high sticker price creates substantial borrowing requirements for most families. Federal student loan debt averages $23,250, which is manageable given graduates' median earnings, but Parent PLUS borrowing averages $52,674—a significant burden that requires careful family financial planning. The combination of student and parent borrowing means total family debt often exceeds $75,000, making Westmont accessible primarily to families with substantial financial resources or those willing to take on considerable debt for the private college experience.
Despite the high costs, Westmont's strong earnings outcomes help justify the investment for many families. The college's 0% federal loan default rate and 93% repayment rate indicate that graduates generally earn enough to manage their debt obligations successfully. However, the affordability challenge means Westmont remains primarily accessible to middle- and upper-income families, limiting its appeal for cost-sensitive students who might benefit from the personalized education but cannot manage the financial commitment.
Westmont College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
