La Sierra University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Riverside, California. It enrolls 1,116 students (a small, tight-knit 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 CalendarQuarter
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.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes59
Value4
Affordability41
Selectivity30
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 91.5%, La Sierra University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
91.5%
Open
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 La Sierra University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
38.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending La Sierra 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 $45,566 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$45,566
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
59%
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
$37,710
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,431
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,446
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,933
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,459
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
$44,988
$30,001 – $48,000
$44,593
$48,001 – $75,000
$45,518
$75,001 – $110,000
$47,266
Over $110,000
$45,999
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.
$3,66810%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$42,66690%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 $21,500
↓ $5,500
No Pell $13,334
↓ $13,666
Dependent students $18,042
↓ $8,958
Independent students $24,781
↓ $2,219
Female students $18,797
↓ $8,203
Male students $18,500
↓ $8,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,349, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
32% of full-time students who enrolled at La Sierra University graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
32%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered La Sierra University earn a median of $61,824 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$61,824
Earning > $25K
82%
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
$51,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$60,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$50,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$62,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,200, about 15% 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 ↑
16.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
La Sierra University is home to 1,116 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,116
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 53.9%602
Asian 14.8%165
White 8.9%99
Other 8.4%94
Black 7.2%80
International 6.5%72
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at La Sierra University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityRiverside, California
Housing
Strongly residential850 beds for 1,116 students
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
La Sierra University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
57 distinct programs across
18 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 La Sierra University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$181M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,616
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
91 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
26
29%
$85,982
Associate Professors
33
36%
$70,717
Assistant Professors
26
29%
$64,727
Lecturers
6
7%
$74,493
Pros & Cons of La Sierra University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how La Sierra University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Best for:
Based on the data, La Sierra University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about La Sierra University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about La Sierra University.
Is La Sierra University hard to get into?
La Sierra University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 91.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at La Sierra University?
La Sierra University has an acceptance rate of 91.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does La Sierra University cost?
The average net price after aid at La Sierra University is $45,566 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is La Sierra University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,824 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $45,566 per year. That's roughly 1.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is La Sierra University known for?
La Sierra University is best known for its programs in Criminal Justice, Health/Medical Preparatory, Counseling Education. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do La Sierra University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering La Sierra University are $61,824, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is La Sierra University accredited?
Yes. La Sierra University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend La Sierra University?
La Sierra University enrolls 1,116 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at La Sierra University?
La Sierra University graduates 32% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is La Sierra University a public or private college?
La Sierra University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is La Sierra University located?
La Sierra University is located in Riverside, California.
What programs does La Sierra University offer?
La Sierra University offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Criminal Justice, Health/Medical Preparatory, Counseling Education.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at La Sierra University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at La Sierra University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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