La Sierra University
#7 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 64% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $61,824 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $45,566 F
- 166% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 92% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 11.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.6 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $11.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,936,984.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 52% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 3.30% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $11.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why La Sierra University Matters
La Sierra University is a private university in Riverside, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. 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 University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,116
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI · 95
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose La Sierra 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
Accessible — admits about 92% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $45,566 a year after grants and scholarships — 166% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $61,824 ten years after enrolling — 52% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 7% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.76 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
La Sierra University has an acceptance rate of 92%, making it accessible for many students seeking higher education. This high acceptance rate indicates a welcoming environment for those who apply, creating a diverse student body.
According to Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics are not available for La Sierra University. However, graduates earn a median income of $61,824 within ten years of completing their degrees, suggesting that students can find good employment opportunities after graduation.
The net price for attending La Sierra University is $45,566, with a median debt of $27,000. Nearly half of the students receive Pell Grants, highlighting the school's commitment to supporting lower-income students. Health Professions and Criminal Justice are among the top programs, attracting students interested in fields that offer strong job prospects.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective La Sierra 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 La Sierra University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
La Sierra University, located in Riverside, California, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 64%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,396
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.67
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
- Applicants
- 1,878
- Admitted
- 1,725
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 La Sierra University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at La Sierra University is $37,710, 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 $45,566. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $44,988 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $37,710
- Out-of-State
- $37,710
- Avg Net Price
- $45,566
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 47%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 59%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $44,988
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $44,593
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $45,518
- Family Income $110K+
- $45,999
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 La Sierra 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 La Sierra University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of La Sierra University earn a median of $61,824, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,617
- 8 Years
- $52,107
- 10 Years
- $61,824
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.44x
- Earning > $25K
- 58%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (106)
- 35%
- 100% (106)
- 35%
- 100% (106)
- 35%
- 100% (106)
- 35%
How La 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 La Sierra University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, La Sierra University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $45,566/year ($182,264 total). Graduates earn $61,824 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,119,248 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,936,984 (11.6× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $182,264
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,119,248
- Net Return
- $1,936,984
- ROI Multiple
- 11.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $45,566
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 64%
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 La Sierra University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
La Sierra 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 3.30%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 29.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $81,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.30%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 29.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $110,458
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,979,303
- Investment Income
- $-17,069,560
Top Programs
The fields La Sierra 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.
- Health Professions 30%
- Business & Marketing 17% $35,350 early-career
- Criminal Justice 14% $32,002 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $27,056 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7%
- Psychology 3% $33,292 early-career
- English & Literature 2%
- Humanities 2%
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 La Sierra 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
- 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
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into La Sierra University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
La Sierra University, located in Riverside, California, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend La Sierra University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at La Sierra University is $37,710, 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 $45,566. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $44,988 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is La Sierra University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of La Sierra University earn a median of $61,824, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does La Sierra University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
La Sierra 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 3.30%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 29.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $81,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is La Sierra 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 La Sierra University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), 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 La Sierra University.
- Otis College of Art and DesignLos Angeles, CA · Close peer64% grad $58,152 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Martin's UniversityLacey, WA · Close peer55% grad $62,092 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mount Saint Mary CollegeNewburgh, NY · Close peer66% grad $67,705 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- William Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA · Close peer58% grad $56,257 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Nichols CollegeDudley, MA · Close peer63% grad $58,063 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Joseph's College of MaineStandish, ME · Close peer67% grad $59,045 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is La Sierra 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 La Sierra University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), 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