Westcliff University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Irvine, California. It enrolls 2,363 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarOther Academic Year
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes48
Value—
Affordability5
Selectivity56
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 73.2%, Westcliff University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
73.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Westcliff University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
44.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Westcliff University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $35,426 per year. That's above the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$35,426
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
6%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
6%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$17,670
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,632
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,160
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,210
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$24,253
$30,001 – $48,000
$33,829
$48,001 – $75,000
$35,913
$75,001 – $110,000
$36,031
Over $110,000
$40,799
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$23,750Medianpercentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,500
↓ $16,250
No Pell $7,016
↓ $16,734
Dependent students $6,500
↓ $17,250
Independent students $15,625
↓ $8,125
Female students $6,531
↓ $17,219
Male students $7,500
↓ $16,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($23,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
Who Studies Here
Westcliff University is home to 2,363 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,363
Part-Time
32%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
International 9.3%219
White 5.4%128
Black 3.4%80
Other 2.8%67
Hispanic 2.3%55
Asian 1.4%32
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Westcliff University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityIrvine, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Other Academic Yearscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Westcliff University offers
a varied set of programs:
29 distinct programs across
9 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Westcliff University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,740
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
37 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
24
65%
$69,087
Associate Professors
3
8%
$72,750
Assistant Professors
10
27%
$62,156
Pros & Cons of Westcliff University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Westcliff University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Modest first-year retention
Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Frequently Asked Questions about Westcliff University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Westcliff University.
Is Westcliff University hard to get into?
Admissions at Westcliff University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Westcliff University?
Westcliff University has an acceptance rate of 73.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Westcliff University cost?
The average net price after aid at Westcliff University is $35,426 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Westcliff University known for?
Westcliff University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Information Systems. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Westcliff University accredited?
Yes. Westcliff University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Westcliff University?
Westcliff University enrolls 2,363 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
Is Westcliff University a public or private college?
Westcliff University is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Westcliff University located?
Westcliff University is located in Irvine, California.
What programs does Westcliff University offer?
Westcliff University offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Information Systems.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Westcliff University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Westcliff University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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