What Is Whittier College? A Quick Guide to the Liberal Arts School in Southern California

Whittier College is a four-year private liberal arts college in Southern California, located between Los Angeles and Orange County. It suits students who want a small-college liberal arts education with hands-on learning, faculty mentorship, and the option to design an interdisciplinary major. The college describes itself as nationally ranked among the top 100 liberal arts colleges and as a Top 20 Best Value School.

Where Whittier College Is and What It Offers

The campus sits in Whittier, California, within the Los Angeles metropolitan area and near Orange County. That setting gives students access to two major Southern California regions while keeping them on a residential campus in Uptown Whittier.

Academically, Whittier is built around liberal arts study with an emphasis on discovery, research, and the creation of knowledge. The college frames this as "Illuminating Potential"—its shorthand for an education where students learn by doing rather than only by listening.

The Whittier Experience

The college describes its approach as mentorship and support combined with hands-on learning. Students who thrive on applied work are meant to find their niche here, with research and knowledge creation embedded in coursework rather than reserved for graduate study.

Designing Your Own Major

The Whittier Scholars Program lets students combine courses across disciplines into a customized major. This is aimed at students with more than one strong interest who don't want to choose a single traditional department. If you are deciding between fields rather than committed to one, this is the feature to ask about directly.

Student Life, Athletics, and Study Abroad

The athletics range is worth noting: a student who wants to keep playing a sport without a Division I commitment has options here, including less conventional ones like inner tube water polo.

Career Preparation Before Graduation

Whittier states that students don't have to wait until graduation to build a resume. The college points to combining extracurricular activities, internships, and fellowships so that graduates leave prepared for a first job or graduate school. For a prospective student, the practical question is which internships and fellowships are available in your intended field—ask during a visit or information request rather than assuming.

How to Take the Next Step

The college's site lists three main actions: visit, apply, and request information. The address is 13406 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA 90602, and the main phone number is 562.907.4200.

Before deciding, it helps to check three things against your own goals:

• Cost and aid: The college promotes its Best Value ranking, but the site does not publish tuition figures in the material reviewed here. Ask for current costs and financial aid details directly.
• Major fit: Confirm whether your intended field is a standard major or better pursued through the Whittier Scholars Program.
• Campus feel: With a residential campus and heavy extracurricular participation, an in-person visit is the clearest way to judge whether the setting fits you.

Whittier College is a reasonable fit for a student who wants a small, private liberal arts college in Southern California with mentorship, research opportunities, and flexibility in designing a major. It is a less obvious fit for someone seeking a large research university or a specialized pre-professional program—verify program depth in your field before applying.