The mission of Westmont College is to provide a high quality undergraduate liberal arts program in a residential campus community that assists college men and women toward a balance of rigorous intellectual competence, healthy personal development, and strong Christian commitments.
Westmont College is a Christian liberal arts college in Santa Barbara, California.
The school's mission is to "provide a high quality undergraduate liberal arts program in a residential campus community that assists college men and women toward a balance of rigorous intellectual competence, healthy personal development, and strong Christian commitments." Ruth Kerr, owner of the Kerr Mason Jar Company, established the school as the Bible Missionary Institute (1937), later renamed the Western Bible College (1939). During these early years, Ruth and the other founders decided that a liberal arts curriculum was the best direction for the school. In 1940 Dr. Wallace Emerson, the first president, renamed the school Westmont College, envisioning a Christian liberal arts college that would take its place among the best in the nation.
By 1944, Westmont College had outgrown its facilities in downtown Los Angeles. After a failed attempt to move the campus to Altadena in early 1945 the desperate search for a new campus led Mrs. Kerr and the trustees to the former Dwight Murphy estate in Montecito with its 125 acres. Westmont purchased this property and moved to the Santa Barbara area in the Fall of 1945.
Set in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains, Westmont’s wooded and scenic acres provide an environment for a residential college. The campus includes buildings and land from two former estates and the historic Deane School for Boys. The grounds still feature the pathways, stone bridges, and garden atmosphere typical of Montecito, a suburb of Santa Barbara.
While Westmont has sought to preserve and use the original structures, it has also built new facilities, including the John Misenhimer Library, the restored Westmont Art Center, the Anders Nelson Science Building, the Murchison Gymnasium Complex, and the Ruth Kerr Memorial Student Center. They are currently anticipating the addition of the Winter Hall for Science and Mathematics, and the Adams Center for the Visual Arts as the completion of the master plan.
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| Percent of Students International: | 0% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 77% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| Member of: | NAA, NAIA |
| Sports Include: |
Basketball (Golden State Athletic Conference) Baseball (Golden State Athletic Conference) Track (Golden State Athletic Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 27,806 | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 27,076 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 730 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,777 | 12% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 7,021 | 21% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 8,017 | 85% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 5,271 | 57% | |
Any Aid: |
90% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 74% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 90% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 550, Math: 550 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 660, Math: 660 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 33% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 24, Verbal: 23, Math: 24 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 28, Verbal: 29, Math: 28 |
| Application Fee: | $ 50.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Recommended |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Recommended |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
