Studies show that students from financially insecure backgrounds are less likely to graduate from college and get a degree, but schools like Whittier can make a real difference in their lives. To calculate these scores, U.S. News analyzes factors including graduation rates for federal loan recipients who are the first in their families to attend college and graduation rates for students who receive federal Pell Grants, awarded to students whose household income is less than $50,000.
Whittier was also named one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation and is included in the top 100 best value schools list for national liberal arts colleges.
“While we don’t look to outside rankings to affirm that the educational experience we offer is transformative for our students’ futures, it is always gratifying when others confirm what we see,” said Whittier College President Kristine E. Dillon ’73. “Our mission is to translate highly personalized, experiential learning into real-world opportunities and career readiness, and we work closely with families to ensure access and affordability. As a proud Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution with a significant first-generation cohort, it is especially encouraging that our commitment to inclusive excellence, social mobility, and great value continues to earn praise.”
Whittier also appears in The Princeton Review’s Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition and among Washington Monthly’s annual top 100 liberal arts colleges, as well as in the top 35 for public service.
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