Westmont College

What is the accreditation of Westmont College?

Westmont College holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission, commonly called WSCUC. Institutional accreditation evaluates the college as a whole; it is different from accreditation or approval that may apply to an individual professional program.

This distinction is particularly important for students considering a field tied to licensure, such as nursing or teacher preparation. They should verify the current program-specific approvals and the requirements of the state where they intend to work. Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not guarantee that another college will accept a particular course in transfer or that a graduate will qualify for a professional license.

What are the admission requirements at Westmont College?

Westmont does not have open admission. First-year applicants generally submit an undergraduate application, a secondary-school transcript showing graduation or an accepted equivalent, an academic record and a recommendation. The college considers preparation for college-level study, including completed coursework and grades.

Westmont's reported admissions criteria require a secondary-school GPA and college-preparatory coursework; class rank may be considered but is not required. SAT and ACT scores are considered when submitted rather than required. Among enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, the reported median was 1311 on the SAT and 29 on the ACT. Because relatively few enrolled students submitted scores, those medians should not be read as minimums: about 23% submitted SAT scores and 5% submitted ACT scores.

For the reported entering class, Westmont admitted 1,910 of 2,479 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 77%. That describes a past applicant pool, not an individual applicant's probability of admission. Applicants whose first language is not English should check the current English-proficiency rules, including accepted tests and any waiver criteria. Application rounds, deadlines and requirements for specialized programs should be checked for the intended entry term.

What are the application fees and waivers at Westmont College?

Applicants should check the fee shown in Westmont's current undergraduate application before submitting it; an enrollment deposit or other post-admission charge is not an application fee. The amount and any waiver process can depend on the application route and applicant category.

A student for whom an application charge would be a hardship should ask admissions about fee-waiver eligibility before paying. If a waiver is available, the applicant should follow the instructions for the application method they are using and confirm whether approval must occur before submission. Paying first and requesting reimbursement afterward is not the same as receiving a waiver.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Westmont College?

Westmont does not need to operate its own on-campus ROTC detachment for students to explore officer-training options. Institutional reporting identifies Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC opportunities through cooperating host institutions, so participation would involve a cross-enrollment arrangement rather than a Westmont-based branch unit.

A prospective cadet should confirm the active host arrangement, eligibility, course schedule and travel requirements with the relevant ROTC program and Westmont before enrolling. ROTC participation and scholarships have separate application rules; scholarship or commissioning pathways can also carry military service obligations. Students should not assume that admission to Westmont automatically enrolls them in ROTC or awards an ROTC scholarship.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Westmont College?

Westmont accepts transfer applicants for fall and spring entry and generally considers college credit earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer admission and the award of transfer credit are separate decisions: an applicant can be admitted without every previous course satisfying a Westmont degree requirement.

Transfer applicants should be prepared to provide official transcripts from colleges attended and to follow any applicable rules for submitting high-school records. Westmont also reports accepting eligible CLEP and DSST/DANTES credit, but the amount awarded and its application to a major or general education requirement depend on college policy. Before accepting an offer, a transfer student should request an official evaluation showing which courses transfer, which requirements they satisfy and how many credits must still be completed at Westmont.

Applicants to sequential majors should pay particular attention to prerequisites and course availability. A substantial number of accepted transfer credits does not necessarily shorten time to graduation if required courses must be taken in a particular order.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Westmont College?

Westmont offers opportunities for study away from its California campus, including international programs. Options can include college-organized programs as well as approved programs run by other providers; their destinations, academic calendars and course offerings can change.

Students considering a semester abroad should establish in advance whether proposed courses will fulfill major, general education or elective requirements. They should also ask how Westmont scholarships, federal aid and other assistance apply to the particular program, because approval to study abroad does not mean every expense is covered. Shorter international experiences and service trips can have different academic-credit and financial arrangements from a full semester of study.