Biola University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
Biola University is a private nonprofit institution located in La Mirada, California with approximately 3,474 undergraduate students enrolled. Biola University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 74%. The average net price after financial aid is $31,495 per year. The graduation rate is 68%, and the typical graduate earns $50,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Biola University is a private, nondenominational, evangelical Christian university in La Mirada, California, United States. It was founded in 1908 as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles as a center for biblical and missionary training. Its campus in downtown Los Angeles features iconic "Jesus Saves" signs and a 3,500-seat auditorium. In 1949, it became Biola College and later adopted the name Biola University in 1981. The school relocated to La Mirada, California, in 1959 and has maintained a strong evangelical identity rooted in conservative theology, as reflected in its association with The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth.
Worth considering if you're a Christian student seeking a faith-integrated education in Southern California — the 85% freshman retention rate suggests students generally feel at home here, and the $19,000 median debt at graduation is a reasonable load. That said, a 69% graduation rate means roughly 3 in 10 students don't finish, which is worth asking the admissions office about directly. At $28,101/year after aid, with median earnings of $50,700 a decade out, this is a workable investment — but not a slam dunk financially, so major choice matters a lot.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 22% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Biola University graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($111,200 vs $88,910 nationally), and most below it in Computer Science ($78,943 vs $107,009).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 68 | $49,450 | $50,706 | −$1,256 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 55 | $111,200 | $88,910 | +$22,290 |
| Biology, General | 42 | $60,014 | $57,214 | +$2,800 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 32 | $69,087 | $58,928 | +$10,159 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 30 | $62,319 | $63,560 | −$1,241 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 28 | $51,566 | $47,382 | +$4,184 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 26 | $53,781 | $56,359 | −$2,578 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 23 | $43,154 | $48,590 | −$5,436 |
| Music | 23 | $50,781 | $42,892 | +$7,889 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 19 | $47,596 | $41,367 | +$6,229 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 18 | $91,330 | $76,194 | +$15,136 |
| Computer Science | 15 | $78,943 | $107,009 | −$28,066 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,474 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in California
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA · Private nonprofit
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofit
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
San Jose, CA · Private for-profit
See How Colleges Compare
Biola University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Biola University?
Biola University has an acceptance rate of 74%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Biola University hard to get into?
Not especially. Biola University has an acceptance rate of 74%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Biola University cost?
The average net price at Biola University is about $31,495 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Biola University?
Biola University has a graduation rate of 68%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.