Start Your Journey to Westmont
A first-year applicant is a high school graduate ready to embark on a transformative college experience at Westmont. Regardless of whether college classes have been taken while in high school, a student coming to college straight after high school will be considered a first-year student.
Explore nearly 100 majors and graduate in 4 years or less. With 97% of our students employed or attending graduate school within 6 months of graduating and 95% of students receiving financial aid, Westmont makes your future attainable and affordable.
Steps to Apply
Westmont uses both our personalized application and the Common App. There is no preference, and both are free of charge.
Request official transcripts of all high school and college (if dual-enrolled) work to be submitted directly from school officials. If filing the Common App, the request may be processed online through that application process.
Applicants have the option of submitting test scores or withholding them. We accept either the SAT, ACT, or CLT. However you choose to proceed, we always conduct a holistic review of each application, including academic credentials, extra-curricular involvement, demonstrated leadership and more.
SAT II subject tests are not required.
Westmont requires one academic reference from a teacher in a major subject (i.e. English, Science, History, Math, etc.). In addition, an optional pastoral/character reference may be submitted. The reference forms may be accessed within either application.
Interviews are optional for applicants but are a great way to allow your counselor to get to know you personally, beyond just your application itself. Set up a time to talk with your admissions counselor, and this time can count as your application interview!
When to Apply
Applications for Spring and Fall 2025 are open!
| APPLICATION TYPE | APPLICATION DEADLINE | APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID | DECISION BY | CANDIDATE REPLY DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall First-Year Early Action I | 10/15/24 | Beginning 12/24 | 12/1/24 | 5/1/25 |
| Fall First-Year Early Action II | 11/1/24 | Beginning 12/24 | Christmas Break | 5/1/25 |
| Fall First-Year Regular Decision | 1/15/25 | Beginning 12/24 | Rolling Beginning 1/1/25 | 5/1/25 |
| Spring Priority Deadline | 11/15/24 | Beginning 8/1 | Within 2-3 weeks after application is complete | Priority 12/1/23 |
Affording College
Students applying without test scores are eligible for all our academic scholarship tiers. Merit scholarships are awarded based on the academic criteria available to us. Admission decisions are always made on the basis of a holistic review, including academic credentials, an interview, extra-curricular involvement, demonstrated leadership and more.
What Westmont scholarship do you qualify for? On the chart below, find your GPA and your test scores (if applicable) and discover the size of your scholarship award. With some scholarships, higher test scores can compensate for a lower GPA—and vice versa. This amount doesn't include any need-based aid you may receive on the basis of your FAFSA or talent-based awards such as athletics and music scholarships.
Visit Westmont
Located in Santa Barbara, the American Riviera, you’ll flourish in a culturally rich and vibrant setting.
You belong here. You’ll feel at home here. You just have to see it for yourself!
FAQs
We strongly encourage students to apply Early Action, which is by November 1st! This allows you to get a decision back by Christmas, and is non-binding.
First year applicants are required to have a minimum of 14 academic units of credit to include:
| English | 4 years |
|---|---|
| science | 3 years (two years of laboratory science) |
| MATHEMATICS | 3 years (including at least second-year algebra) |
| Foreign Language | 2 years of one language (three years recommended) |
| Social science | 2 years |
AP, IB and A-Level Credit
Westmont grants advanced placement credit to students who present scores of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Tests of the College Entrance Examination Board and for scores of 5, 6, or 7 on Higher-Level subject examinations of the International Baccalaureate Program. Westmont also accepts A-Level exams, which will be evaluated on an as-needed basis. Contact your admissions counselor for more information.
The College limits credit to a maximum of 32 advanced placement/IB units. Up to three Westmont-approved advanced placement exams may be applied to the general education curriculum requirements and any remaining AP units may be applied as electives.
As a test-optional college, whether or not you send standardized test scores is up to you. Feel free to reference our two scholarship grids to see which may be more beneficial to you! We will only use your test scores if they benefit you, which should take off some of the pressure.
- More than 95 percent of Westmont students receive academic scholarships, talent based scholarships, or both. Your bottom line will depend on your family’s financial need and your eligibility for merit and talent based scholarships. Check out the scholarship opportunities Westmont has to offer.
- Academic scholarships
- Talent scholarships
- Other financial aid - FAFSA
Westmont offers in-person tours, virtual experiences and campus events for you to attend. Your visit, your way!
