- TypeUniversities
- LocationLa Mirada, The United States
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Biola University is a private Christian university founded in 1908 in La Mirada, Southern California, between Los Angeles and Orange County. All faculty, staff and students are professing Christians, and most undergraduates complete 30 credits of Bible and theology. The 95-acre campus and the online and distance programmes enrol more than 5,300 students, with a student-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.
Its seven schools offer more than 250 programmes at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level, in fields such as business, cinema and media arts, theology, psychology, science and health, education, and arts and letters. The Torrey Honors College offers a discussion-based honours programme for students of any major.
International applicants must be Christian believers and prove their English proficiency. Biola is authorised to issue the Form I-20 for F-1 student visas, and its English Language Scholars programme lets undergraduates improve their academic English while studying for their degree. The Global Student Engagement office runs an orientation for international students. New international undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships of US$14,000 to US$23,500 per year. Students under 21 who do not live at home must live on campus and take a meal plan.
Not available
Private University
562-903-6000
13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA, The United States, 90639-0001
Bachelor's degrees in seven schools, for example:
- Crowell School of Business: Business Administration
- Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts: Cinema and Media Arts, Game Design and Interactive Media
- Talbot School of Theology: Bible, Theology and Ministry
- Rosemead School of Psychology: Psychology
- School of Science, Technology and Health: Computer Science
- School of Education: Liberal Studies, Elementary Education
- School of Arts and Letters: Art, Communication, English, Political Science
Students can also take Spanish, French or American Sign Language and study abroad.
Master's and doctoral programmes in five graduate schools:
- Talbot School of Theology, e.g. M.A. in Christian Apologetics
- Crowell School of Business, e.g. MBA
- Rosemead School of Psychology, e.g. Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
- School of Education, e.g. M.A. in Teaching
- School of Science, Technology and Health, e.g. M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology
Each school sets its own admission requirements, application process and deadlines.
International undergraduate applicants apply through Biola's own application or the Common App and must:
- Be believers in the Christian faith and answer three short questions about their faith and their interest in Biola
- Have a high school GPA of at least 3.0 (transfer students: a college GPA of at least 2.5)
- Submit transcripts from every school attended (unofficial copies for the application, official ones after admission)
- Prove their English proficiency
For the Form I-20, admitted students send a copy of their passport, an affidavit of financial support and bank statements, and pay the enrolment deposit. Cinema and Media Arts, Torrey Honors College, the Conservatory of the Performing Arts and Pre-Clinical Nursing have additional requirements.
Standard English requirements for undergraduates (one of):
- IELTS 6.5
- TOEFL 4.5
- Duolingo 125
- PTE Academic 58
- SAT Reading and Writing 500 or ACT composite 19
Lower scores (e.g. IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 4.0, PTE 50) may be accepted after committee review, without guaranteed admission. The English Language Scholars programme helps undergraduates improve their academic English while studying for their degree.
International students pay the same as other students at the same level. Estimated undergraduate costs before aid for the 2026-27 academic year:
- Tuition: US$52,944
- Housing: US$6,770
- Food (12 flex meal plan): US$5,600
- Total: US$65,314
International students also pay the US$350 SEVIS fee.
International students cannot receive US government aid, but Biola offers its own aid:
- Merit-based academic scholarships of US$14,000 to US$23,500 per year, considered automatically on admission for new undergraduates
- International Student Aid Grant: US$500-2,000 per year for admitted F-1 undergraduates, based on achievement and leadership, with preference for financial need
- Church Matching Scholarship: up to US$1,300 per year, matching church sponsorship
Students under 21 who do not live at home must live on campus and have a meal plan. Biola has residence halls, such as Hart, Stewart, Hope, Horton and Thompson, and undergraduate apartments, with live-in staff and student leaders. Housing is estimated at US$6,770 per year in 2026-27.