Biola University
About
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.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 9.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 88 Title IV programs, 30 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 58 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing30 · 34.1%
- No Data58 · 65.9%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 9
Action history · 7
- Feb 2022Renewal of AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
- Feb 2021Initial AccreditationAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology · Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) - Graduate degree programs
- Jul 2019Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Clinical Psychology (CLPSYD) - PsyD Doctoral programs
- Jul 2019Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Clinical Psychology (CLPSY) - PhD Doctoral programs
- May 2017Grant Substantive Change: DegreeWASC Senior College and University Commission
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 1,257 students received $6.6M in Pell grants, alongside $26.6M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 1,294 borrowers who entered repayment, 10 (0.7%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Biola
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 10
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus8
- Public property1
Includes 5 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Hart Hall1 fireElectricalDamage $0-$99
- Blackstone Hall2 firesCookingDamage $0-$99
- Blackstone Hall2 firesElectricalDamage $0-$99
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Biola vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Biola selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectBiola University | 68% | 74.4% | 5,434 | $31,495 | Doctoral/Professional |
| 59% | 66.0% | 5,219 | $26,182 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 62% | 88.4% | 6,272 | $22,212 | R2 Research | |
| 62% | 84.9% | 11,902 | $26,285 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 74% | 70.9% | 3,681 | $22,992 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | |
| 82% | 65.4% | 9,760 | $46,555 | R2 Research | |
| 58% | 66.0% | 3,658 | $28,115 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 69% | 78.2% | 5,253 | $36,201 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 69% | 69.2% | 1,595 | $24,883 | Baccalaureate | |
| 43% | 78.9% | 113,257 | $22,472 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 67% | 99.0% | 104,327 | $29,357 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 17% | Open admission | 1,881 | $22,677 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 83% | 62.9% | 8,976 | $58,098 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 77% | 83.7% | 4,757 | $38,729 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 62% | 83.4% | 2,261 | $24,488 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 57% | 62.4% | 2,246 | $21,241 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 70% | 77.0% | 1,310 | $29,053 | Baccalaureate | |
| 85% | 87.4% | 2,874 | $26,975 | Baccalaureate | |
| Peer group median | 68% | 77.0% | 4,988 | $26,630 |
Institutions like Biola
Explore the federal data for institutions in Biola's comparison group.
- Doctoral/ProfessionalTexas
Abilene Christian University
Grad rate59%Admit rate66.0%Enrollment5,219Net price$26,182View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Azusa Pacific University
Grad rate62%Admit rate88.4%Enrollment6,272Net price$22,212View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California Baptist University
Grad rate62%Admit rate84.9%Enrollment11,902Net price$26,285View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Small ProgramsMichigan
Calvin University
Grad rate74%Admit rate70.9%Enrollment3,681Net price$22,992View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Chapman University
Grad rate82%Admit rate65.4%Enrollment9,760Net price$46,555View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Concordia University-Irvine
Grad rate58%Admit rate66.0%Enrollment3,658Net price$28,115View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalWisconsin
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Grad rate69%Admit rate78.2%Enrollment5,253Net price$36,201View data - BaccalaureateMassachusetts
Gordon College
Grad rate69%Admit rate69.2%Enrollment1,595Net price$24,883View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalArizona
Grand Canyon University
Grad rate43%Admit rate78.9%Enrollment113,257Net price$22,472View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalVirginia
Liberty University
Grad rate67%Admit rate99.0%Enrollment104,327Net price$29,357View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsCalifornia
Los Angeles Pacific University
Grad rate17%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment1,881Net price$22,677View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Pepperdine University
Grad rate83%Admit rate62.9%Enrollment8,976Net price$58,098View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
Point Loma Nazarene University
Grad rate77%Admit rate83.7%Enrollment4,757Net price$38,729View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalWashington
Seattle Pacific University
Grad rate62%Admit rate83.4%Enrollment2,261Net price$24,488View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsCalifornia
Vanguard University of Southern California
Grad rate57%Admit rate62.4%Enrollment2,246Net price$21,241View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Westmont College
Grad rate70%Admit rate77.0%Enrollment1,310Net price$29,053View data - BaccalaureateIllinois
Wheaton College
Grad rate85%Admit rate87.4%Enrollment2,874Net price$26,975View data
Biola Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research extracts and reports data for compliance and comparative purposes and examines university data using various methods to activate data-informed decision-making for the purpose of improving student success and experience at Biola.
Visit IR office pageResearch funding
External research funding from NSF, NIH, HERD, and federal spending sources.
Common Data Set
Biola's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Affordability & Value
Cost of attendance
GTotal sticker cost of attendance is $44,808 (2018-2019).
Sticker vs. net price
G+HSticker $44,808 → about $27,728 net for aided students after the average need-based grant ($17,080); 54% of demonstrated need is met.
Where grant aid comes from
H122% of need-based grant dollars come from the institution itself.
Graduate debt
H4/H567% of graduates borrowed; those who did owed $35,489 on average.
Outcomes & Equity
Graduation & retention
B6-year graduation rate 73%; first-year retention 87%.
Equity: Pell graduation gap
B4Pell-grant recipients graduate 3 pts below the overall rate (71% vs 73%).
Student Body & Diversity
Undergraduate race/ethnicity
B2Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity.
International students
B23% of undergraduates are international (nonresident).
Undergrad vs graduate
B14,048 undergraduates and 2,124 graduate students.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D1862 transfer applicants → 574 admitted (66.6%) → 276 enrolled
Reports & documents (5)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- Data dictionaryData dictionaryThe Data Dictionary page for Biola University's University Analytics provides access to various data reports and consumer information, including enrollment profiles, common data sets from 2007 to 2026, university and program learning outcomes, career outcomes, and retention and graduation rates. It also mentions the availability of enrollment profiles upon request and that graduation rate disclosures are published in the Academic Catalog.biola.edu
- Data dictionaryUniversity Analytics - Offices and Services - Biola UniversityThe University Analytics department at Biola University promotes the effective use of data to assist in decision-making and enhance the university's impact. It provides enrollment reports and common data sets to inform planners and drive a culture of inquiry.biola.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookData and Reports - University Analytics - Biola University2025This page from Biola University's University Analytics provides data and reports regarding the institution's enrollment statistics, common data sets, educational outcomes, and graduation rate disclosures. The reports are curated by the University Analytics office, providing insights into university learning outcomes, program learning outcomes, and career outcomes. The most recent common data set covered is for the year 2025-26. Enrollment profiles can be requested for more detailed information, and graduation rates are disclosed in the academic catalog.biola.edu
- FactbookUniversity Analytics - Offices and Services - Biola UniversityThe University Analytics page for Biola University provides information about the Office of University Analytics, its mission to support data-driven decision making and planning at Biola University, and offers access to enrollment reports and common data sets. The office aims to enhance the university's impact and provide invaluable information and analysis to leadership. Contact information and department staff details are also provided.biola.edu
Grants & funding (1)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Notable alumni of Biola (11)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Neil T. AndersonTheology
- Scott DerricksonFilm
- Judith HillMusic
- Josh McDowellTheology
- Nabeel QureshiReligion
- John ThunePolitics
- Charles E. FullerReligion
- Clyde CookEducation
- Russ HiebertPolitics
- Noah MunckEntertainment
- Roy B. ZuckTheology
Frequently asked questions about Biola University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Biola.
What is the acceptance rate at Biola University?
What is the graduation rate at Biola University?
How many students attend Biola University?
What is the average net price at Biola University?
What is the yield rate at Biola University?
Where is Biola University located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Biola University?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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