Biola University
#7 Best Education Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 68% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $56,778 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $31,495 F
- 84% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 74% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 11.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.9 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Education Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $11.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,368,531.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 39% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $11.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Biola University Matters
Biola University is a private doctoral / professional university in La Mirada, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 3,474
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 88
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose Biola University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 74% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1160–1370. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $31,495 a year after grants and scholarships — 84% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $56,778 ten years after enrolling — 39% above the typical college, against $23,875 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 35% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.84 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Biola University has a 74% acceptance rate, making it accessible for a wide range of students. With an enrollment of 3,474, it combines a small college feel with a diverse community. Students looking for a supportive environment will find Biola's focus on personal growth and academic achievement appealing.
Chetty/Opportunity Insights data highlights that Biola graduates experience promising outcomes, with a 10-year median earnings of $56,778. While specific mobility metrics are not available, the university's programs in business, health professions, and education suggest strong career pathways for its graduates.
Attending Biola will cost students an average net price of $31,495, with median debt at $23,875. Graduates typically earn enough to manage their debt comfortably. Biola is ideal for students who thrive in a faith-based environment and are looking for a blend of academic rigor and personal development.
Rankings
- #7 Best Education Colleges in California
- #23 Best Nursing Colleges in California
- #24 Best Engineering Colleges in California
- #27 Best Online Colleges in California
- #28 Best Communications Colleges in California
- #30 Best Online Education Programs in California
- #33 Best MBA Programs in California
- #38 Best Business Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective Biola University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Biola University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in La Mirada, California, Biola University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,261. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1261
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1160–1370
- ACT Range
- 24–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,336
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 4,224
- Admitted
- 2,392
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Biola University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Biola University is $48,984, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $31,495. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,144 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,875 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $48,984
- Out-of-State
- $48,984
- Avg Net Price
- $31,495
- Median Debt
- $23,875
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 44%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $27,144
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $25,410
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $26,825
- Family Income $110K+
- $37,314
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Biola University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Biola University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Biola University earn a median of $56,778, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,752
- 8 Years
- $54,476
- 10 Years
- $56,778
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.42x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (524)
- 56%
- 100% (524)
- 56%
- 100% (524)
- 56%
- 100% (524)
- 56%
How Biola Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Biola University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Biola University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $31,495/year ($125,980 total). Graduates earn $56,778 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,494,511 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,368,531 (11.9× your investment). The median debt is $23,875, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $125,980
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,494,511
- Net Return
- $1,368,531
- ROI Multiple
- 11.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $31,495
- Median Debt
- $23,875
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Biola University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Biola University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.80%, well above the typical college. About 6.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $95,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.80%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 25.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $129,479
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,543,000
- Investment Income
- $-13,333,000
Top Programs
The fields Biola University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 19% $46,778 early-career
- Health Professions 15% $88,611 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $53,125 early-career
- Psychology 11% $32,189 early-career
- Education 5% $36,562 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $29,935 early-career
- Communications 4% $42,504 early-career
- Social Sciences 3% $47,751 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Biola University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Biola University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in La Mirada, California, Biola University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,261. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Biola University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Biola University is $48,984, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $31,495. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,144 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,875 in federal student loans.
Is Biola University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Biola University earn a median of $56,778, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Biola University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Biola University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.80%, well above the typical college. About 6.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $95,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Biola University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Biola University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Biola University.
- Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst, IL · Close peer68% grad $61,462 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Stevenson UniversityOwings Mills, MD · Close peer67% grad $62,079 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, FL · Close peer70% grad $55,294 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA · Close peer76% grad $58,336 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Nazareth UniversityRochester, NY · Close peer73% grad $56,458 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Touro UniversityNew York, NY · Close peer68% grad $53,419 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Biola University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Biola University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note