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Biola University

9.2(1)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1908
Founded
1908
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide

About Biola University

Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.

Established in 1908, Biola University is a prestigious Christian University located in La Miranda, South California. It is a nationally ranked university renowned for biblically centered education, intentional spiritual development, and vocational preparation. It has a student population of over 6,095 enrolled in various programs offered at Biola University. Amongst these, 4,048 students are enrolled in undergraduate programs and 2,124 are graduate students. Students get to study in a safe environment as Biola has been placed within the top 50 “Safest Colleges in America” analysis from Safe At Last.

The university offers 150 degrees at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels at the campus in La Miranda, online and in distance education mode. Some of the popular courses to study at Biola University are Accounting, Business, Media, Journalism, Arts and Humanities, Social Science, etc.

Due to the university’s excellent academic performance, it has consistently been ranked as one of the topmost Christian universities in the U.S. Moreover, Biola University was also recognized as “America’s Top 10 up and coming” national universities, as per the U.S. News and World Report. It also ranks in the list of “Best Undergraduate Teaching”.

Biola University Ranking

Here are the rankings of Biola University on various educational portals:

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings:

  • #401-500 in the U.S. College Rankings 

U.S. News and World Report:

  • #187 in National Universities
  • #79 in Best Value Schools
  • #39 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
  • #136 in Best College for Veterans
  • #98 in Top Performance on Social Mobility

Highlights

Type Private
Campus Setting Suburban
Endowment 146 Million USD
Programs Offered Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral programs
Cost of Attendance 53,783 USD
Student-to-Faculty ratio 14:1
Graduation Rate 73%
Retention Rate 87%
On-campus accommodation capacity 65%
Admission Helpdesk 1-800-OK-BIOLA
Official Website https://www.biola.edu/

Biola University Campus

  • Biola University has a beautiful campus in Southern California with an area of 95 acres with exquisite views, and beaches. The university is known for being a 'Great university with Great weather'.
  • The campus has accommodation facilities, 40 majors buildings, 98,000 sq ft large library, attractive classrooms, 6 on-campus dining campus and science center, sports, and recreational facilities.
  • The university campus is a few miles away from Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. Students can also enjoy surfing and sunbathing on the beach, live music at historic theatres and concert halls, TV tapings, Getty Center's vast art collection, and major league entertainments throughout the year.
  • The classrooms are attractive and well-equipped with the latest technology as the study area, internet connectivity, computer systems, etc.
  • The campus also has athletic and recreational facilities that include swimming complex, gymnasium, tennis courts, fitness center, baseball diamonds, lighted outdoor courts for basketball and sand volleyball, etc.

Biola University Accommodation

  • Biola University provides on-campus accommodation to all students. Most of the freshmen stay on campus. Applicants can also go for off-campus accommodation available in US cities.
  • The choice of residence halls and apartment based housing is available.
  • The estimated cost of living in residence halls is 6,000 USD, the stay at apartments is more expensive than residential halls.
  • The university has 11 residence halls, with Alpha Hall, Hart Hall, Blackstone Hall, Hope Hall North, Sigma Hall being some of them.
  • Approximately 7 apartment based housing available. Some of them are Beachcomber, La Miranda, Tradewinds, Tropicana and Wech.
  • The on-campus accommodation is comfortable with all the basic amenities, bed, chair, desk, bookcase, closet, common area, internet connection, and laundry facilities.

Biola University Programs

  • Biola University offers academic programs through nine schools, namely:
    • Cook School of Intercultural Studies
    • Crowell School of Business
    • Rosemead School of Psychology
    • School of Cinema and Media Arts
    • School of Education
    • School of Fine Arts and Communication
    • School of Humanities and Social Sciences
    • School of Science, Technology and Health
    • Talbot School of Theology
  • About 150 academic programs at Biola University at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels in disciplines including Anthropology, Accounting, Art, Business Management, Computer Science, Education, English, Law, and Management.
  • The popular undergraduate programs are BS in Accounting, BS in Arts, BS in Business Administration, BA in English, BS in Design and BS in Mathematics.
  • The popular graduate programs are Master of Professional Accountancy, MA in Education, MBA, and Master of Divinity.

Application Process for Biola University

International applicants need to keep the following procedure in mind if considering getting admission at Biola University:

  • Application Portal: Applicants can apply through an online portal available at the university's official website.
  • Application Fees:
    • Undergraduate Applicant- 45 USD (non-refundable)
    • Graduate Applicant- 65 USD (non-refundable)
  • Application Deadlines: Application deadlines for undergraduate courses are:
    • Fall Session
      • Early Action 1- November 15
      • Early Action 2- January 15
    • Spring Session
      • Regular- October 15
    • Deadlines for application to graduate courses vary with the course.
  • Required Documents: Following documents are required for the application process
    • A completed application
    • Official transcripts or high school records, diplomas, and certificates from previous institutions
    • Standardized test scores i.e,
      • SAT/ACT (For undergraduate applicants)
      • GRE/GMAT (For graduate applicants)
    • English language proficiency
    • Financial documents, if applying for financial aids
  • Additional Requirements:
    • Essay
    • Statement of Purpose
    • A valid passport
    • Valid student Visa
  • English Language Proficiency: Applicants with a native language other than English need to prove their proficiency by providing scores of TOEFL, IELTS test.

Biola University Cost of Attendance

  • The estimated cost of attendance depends on several factors like the program applied for, tuition fees, books and supplies, housing, dining, transportation etc.
  • Estimated Cost of Attendance at Biola University is tabulated below:
Expense Cost per Year
Tuition Fees 43,512 USD
Room and Board (On Campus) 11,039 USD
Books and Supplies 1,000 USD
Health Insurance 1,070 USD
Personal Expenses 2,000 USD
Total 58,621 USD

Financial Aid by Biola University

  • Biola University offers financial help in the form of Scholarships, Grants, and Loans.
  • The university provides financial aids to almost 99% of the students.
  • Apart from these, there are other scholarships to study in the USA that can offer a good amount of rebate on your cost of attendance.
  • The university offers many merits and needs-based scholarships to international students. Some of the freshman academic scholarships available for international undergraduates are:
    • Dean's Scholarship - 18,000 USD
    • Provost's Scholarship- 19,000 USD
    • Founder's Grant- 10,000 USD
    • President's Scholarship- 1,000 USD
    • Eagle's Grant - 10,000 USD
  • Undergraduate students are also provided Church matching scholarships and First-gen Scholarships.
  • The university provides most of the scholarships automatically, but for some scholarships, an application needs to be submitted.

Biola University Alumni

  • The university has a strong network of alumni from all across the world,
  • The university runs an alumni association called Biola Hub.
  • The association organizes various tours for its members, the association also offers discounted fitness club membership, free parking, free class audit, discounted health insurance, library membership, and many other discounts and benefits.
  • Some notable alumni are:
    • Cassie Randolph (Television Personality)
    • John Thune (U.S. Senator)
    • Anabel Munoz (Reporter and Anchor)

Biola University Placements

Around 90% of the graduates of Biola University were employed or admitted to graduate school within 6 months from graduation which was 17% higher than the 73% average across the Western United States. The median starting salary of an alumni of Biola University was 47,300 USD. Crowell’s MBA graduates are employed in companies like Boeing, Philips, HP, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, etc.

Nearly 70% of the students completed at least one internship during the bachelor’s degree program. The university also has a job placement assistance system called ‘Handshake’ which provides support and services to students to help them with their job placement.

FAQs

Ques. What are the most popular majors offered at Biola University?

Ans. Biola University is Christian faith university and is very well-known for its program in Biblical Studies.

Ques. What GPA is required for admission to Biola University?

Ans. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for admission to undergraduate programs.

Ques. Is it hard to get into Biola University?

Ans. Biola University has a moderately selective admission policy. It had an acceptance rate of 70% in fall.

Ques. What is the tuition fee of Biola University?

Ans. The tuition fee for undergraduate at Biola University is 44,382 USD while the tuition fee for graduates vary from program to program and ranges from 667 USD to 1,307 USD.

Ques. What are the financial aid options for international students?

Ans. International students are eligible to receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants and loans.

Ques. What ACT or SAT score is required for admission to Biola University?

Ans. Applicants must have a minimum ACT composite score of 19 or minimum SAT EBRW+Math score of 1000 and a reading test score of 26. Students admitted to Biola University have an SAT score between 1080 and 1310 or an ACT score of 21 and 28. 

Ques. How can I apply to Biola University?

Ans. Interested students can apply to Biola University by completing the online application available on the university’s website. Undergraduates must submit an application fee of 45 USD and postgraduate applicants must pay 65 USD.

Ques. Does Biola University have dorms?

Ans. Yes. Biola University offers on-campus accommodation to students.

Ques. Where does Biola University stand in the world?

Ans. Biola University ranks in the top #401-500 universities in the U.S. in THE World University Rankings. It is ranked at the 187th position in national universities in the U.S. News and World Report.

Ques. Will Biola be having in-person classes for the spring semester?

Ans. Given Biola’s long-planned precautions as well as the hardship students have faced over the last nine months, Biola’s intention is to begin reopening the campus in the spring semester based on a phased-in approach.

Courses & Fees

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Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.

Courses

40

Fee from

₹17,52,753.6

Exams

IELTS · TOEFL

Showing 5 of 32 bachelors

Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 45.9 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 48,984 /Yr
Fee trendTuition progression
Official Program Page
Admission Guide

Admission Process

Biola University offers admission to international students in the terms of fall and spring. With an acceptance rate of 70%, the university manifests a lightly competitive admission policy. The 9 schools of the nationally-ranked Christian institution offers admission to over 150 programs at Biola University.

The application fee for undergraduate programs at Biola University is 45 USD (~3,300 INR) and for graduate programs is 65 USD (~4,800 INR). The university admits students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (~83-86%). Students taking admission to Biola University have an average SAT score of 1080-1310 and ACT score of 21-28. Students applying to the graduate programs have an optional GRE or GMAT score requirement.

Highlights

Application Portal Online
Application Fee 45 USD for undergraduate(non-refundable)
65 USD for graduate(non-refundable)
Acceptance Rate 70%
Average SAT score 1180
Average ACT score 19
Mode of payment Online payment/money order
Academic calendar Semester based
Intake sessions Fall/Spring
Work experience Required for graduate students
Financial aid Students scholarships, loans and grants available
International Admissions UG: International Freshmen
PG: [email protected]

Biola University Admission Deadlines

The university offers admission to international students in the fall and spring semesters. Following are the admission deadlines for International students
Term/Semester Deadlines for Undergraduate Programs Deadlines for Graduate Programs
Fall Early Action 1: November 15 June 1
Early Action 2: January 15
Regular Decision: Variable
Spring October 15 October 1

Biola University International Student Admissions

The application process for international students is somewhat different from that of domestic students. In addition to the minimum requirements needed for the domestic students, they are needed to submit some extra documents.

Application requirements

Applicants have to submit the following documents:

  • Completed application form
  • Number of essays
  • All the official high school and college transcripts issued within the time mentioned by the University
  • All International transcripts need U.S. grade equivalencies (GPA on a 4.0 scale). 
    • If an applicant's transcripts do not show U.S. grade equivalencies, he/she must have them evaluated by the credential evaluation agency.
  • Different standardized scores.
  • The applicants whose first language is not English have to submit English proficiency which is TOEFL/IELTS scores.
  • Verification of financial support.
  • Copy of passport.

International students are welcomed to apply for admissions given that they are believers in the Christian faith. In addition, they have to have completed their secondary and post-secondary education from their respective education board and met the minimum required grade point equivalency, verified financial support for the calendar year, provided all the required academic records before the respective deadlines of their desired course. 

English Proficiency Test Requirements

Biola University admission requires excellent scores in English proficiency tests from international applicants. The required scores are listed below: 
Tests Required Scores
TOEFL iBT 26
IELTS 7.5
Duolingo 120

Visa Process for International Students

Admitted international applicants need to obtain a US student visa to be able to study at Biola. The following documents should be submitted for the issuance of I-20 form:

  • Copy of passport valid for at least six months after the commencement of the program at university.
  • Dependents(if any) must also provide valid copies of passport.
  • Affidavit of support.
  • Verified bank statement.
  • After these documents are verified, an I-20 visa document will be generated.
  • Students have to check and sign their I-20 form and pay the SEVIS fee.
    • It can be paid via online6 or by check/money order.

After this, the student has to apply for an F-1 visa and pay the required visa fee. After that, the student will be asked for an interview at the nearest U.S embassy. Students have to bring the following documents along with them:

  • Proof of permanent residency
  • A valid passport
  • Form I-20
  • Affidavit of Support
  • Proof of financial ability to support yourself (bank statements)
  • A copy of your TOEFL/IELTS test scores

After passing the interview, the student will be issued a student visa for his future study.

Biola University Undergraduate Admissions

Biola University offers a large number of programs through its undergraduate program. Most popular programs include Accounting, Biblical and Theological Studies, Business Administration, Cinema and Media Arts, and Computer Science. Students are required to submit an essay along with all the official transcripts from their previous schools attended.

Application Portal: Online portal 

Application Fee: Non-refundable 45 USD (~3,300 INR)

Admission Requirements:

  • Applicants have to be believers in Christian faith.
  • The applicants must have at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA in high school.
  • The applicant should have a 26 reading test score on the new SAT pattern
  • ACT score of 19 to be considered for admission

Biola University Graduate Admissions

International students can choose among on-campus and online graduate programs at Biola University. The university provides various graduate programs through its 7 graduate schools.

Application Portal: Online Application

Application Fee: Non-refundable 65 USD (~4,800 INR)

Admission requirements: Following are the general requirements for the graduate programs at Biola University:

  • Transcripts sent directly from the institution or through electronic medium or physically.  
  • GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (83-86%).
  • A competitive GRE score is required if the GPA is less than 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 (89-90%). 
  • Verified bank statements.
  • Valid visa.
  • LOR.
  • Resume/ CV.
  • Evidence of financial support.
  • Proof of English proficiency.

Here are specific academic requirements for some of the popular graduate programs at Biola University:

Admission requirements Transcripts Graduate Admission Tests Essay Resume/ CV Additional Requirements
MBA Required Optional GMAT or GRE Required Required 3 years of relevant professional experience
MA in Education Required Not required Required Required Work experience
MS in Special Education Required Not required Required Required Not required
MA in Teaching Required Not required Required Required Not required
MA in Applied Linguistics Required Not required Required Required Not required

Most of the courses at Biola University are designed for on-campus although the online facility is also available in the most popular courses. A student has to keep in touch with the University website after applying for admission. As the acceptance rate is not that significantly high so the applicants are requested to apply as early as possible although University follows the rolling application model.

If the application form gets accepted, the applicant will receive the admission form. Upon receiving the admission letter, they should do all visa related work in a hurry.

The international students may contact the following for any admission related query

Placements & Recruiters

Biola University Placement Details

Biola University in La Mirada, California, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in La Mirada, California, United States.

Recruiters
N/A
Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric

Highest Package

N/A

Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.

Placement Metric

Average Package

N/A

Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.

Placement information is currently limited.

More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.

Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2019

Highlights
2019
  • Best overall country rank: #61
  • Overall: #61 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall
  • 2 ranking records in 2019

2024

Highlights
2024
  • Best overall country rank: #58
  • Overall: #58 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall
  • 1 ranking record in 2024

Contact Information

13800 Biola Ave

+1-562-903-6000

Student Reviews & Ratings

Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary

Overall score

9.2/10
Top Rated

Based on 1 rating

Rating Breakdown

Visual summary of rating distribution and categories

Live Summary
Academic
10.0/10
Faculty
10.0/10
Infrastructure
10.0/10
Accommodation
7.0/10
Placement
10.0/10
Extracurricular
8.0/10