Biola University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in La Mirada, California. It enrolls 3,474 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 CalendarSemester
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
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes74
Value13
Affordability22
Selectivity62
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 74.4%, Biola University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
74.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1160 – 1370
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Biola University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
9.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Biola 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 $31,495 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$31,495
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
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
$48,984
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,130
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,130
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,128
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,128
Total Cost of Attendance
$62,757
Application fee: $45 (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
$27,144
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,410
$48,001 – $75,000
$26,825
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,846
Over $110,000
$37,314
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.
$5,03010%percentile
$9,25025%percentile
$23,875Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,00090%percentile
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 $20,500
↓ $3,375
No Pell $15,209
↓ $8,666
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $4,375
Independent students $15,000
↓ $8,875
Female students $19,290
↓ $4,585
Male students $19,000
↓ $4,875
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,848, less than completers ($23,875), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
71% of full-time students who enrolled at Biola University graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
71%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Biola University earn a median of $56,778 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,778
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$60,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$56,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,100, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Biola University is home to 3,474 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,474
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 39.4%1,369
Hispanic 24.1%837
Asian 12.9%448
Other 8.4%293
International 6.9%238
Black 3.2%110
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Biola University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbLa Mirada, California
Housing
Strongly residential2,773 beds for 3,474 students
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Biola University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
20 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 Biola University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$321M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$74,822
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
244 instructional faculty across 4 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
81
33%
$86,824
Associate Professors
117
48%
$73,030
Assistant Professors
40
16%
$61,132
Instructors
6
2%
$39,002
Pros & Cons of Biola University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Biola University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Frequently Asked Questions about Biola University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Biola University.
Is Biola University hard to get into?
Admissions at Biola University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 74.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Biola University?
Biola University has an acceptance rate of 74.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Biola University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Biola University scored between 1160 and 1370 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Biola University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Biola University scored between 24 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Biola University cost?
The average net price after aid at Biola University is $31,495 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Biola University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,778 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $31,495 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Biola University known for?
Biola University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Film & Video Production, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Biola University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Biola University are $56,778, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Biola University accredited?
Yes. Biola University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Biola University?
Biola University enrolls 3,474 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Biola University?
Biola University graduates 71% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Biola University a public or private college?
Biola University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Biola University located?
Biola University is located in La Mirada, California.
What programs does Biola University offer?
Biola University offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Film & Video Production, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Biola University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Biola University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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