Whittier College Athletics

Whittier College competes in NCAA Division III, where students play for love of the game rather than athletic scholarships since D3 schools cannot offer them. The Poets field 16 varsity sports with 246 total athletes, meaning about 30% of the 812 students participate in college athletics. They compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference against other small liberal arts colleges in the region. The nickname "Poets" honors the college's connection to John Greenleaf Whittier, the famous Quaker poet for whom the school is named. With the 8:1 student-faculty ratio extending to coaching relationships, athletes get personal attention both on the field and in the classroom. The athletic program emphasizes personal growth and team building rather than the high-pressure environment you'd find at Division I schools.