Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
La Mirada, California
60.1% Acceptance Rate
Biola University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
60.1%Acceptance Rate
3.61Avg GPA
1258Avg SAT
27Avg ACT
$58,430Annual Cost
$56,778Grad Salary
26%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
60.1%
Avg GPA
3.61
Avg SAT
1258
Avg ACT
27
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1130–1360
ACT Middle 50%
24–30
Need-Based Aid
26% receive Pell
Biola University, founded in 1908 in La Mirada, California, is a leading Christian university known for its theology, psychology, and cinema/media arts programs. It ranks highly for its integration of faith and learning in a rigorous academic environment.
The campus features film production studios, psychology clinics, and chapel spaces. Its proximity to Los Angeles provides students with access to internships in entertainment, ministry, and healthcare industries.
Biola University Acceptance Rate
Biola University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 60.1% each year.
What Biola University Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 60.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.61 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.41 – 3.60
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.16
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Biola University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Biola University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 30 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 116 days left — Early Application (Fall)
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Biola University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Application (Fall)
November 30
Regular (Spring)
November 30
Regular (Fall)
March 1
Torrey Honors College / Stewart Science Honors
March 1
Conservatory (Music/Theatre)
May 1
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Biola University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Biola University is 3.61. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.31 and 3.61? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.81–4.01.Biola University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.61 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.41 – 3.60
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.21 – 3.40
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.20
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Founded 1908 as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles; nondenominational Evangelical affiliation.
- No undergraduate application fee; graduate application fee is $65.
- NCAA Division II athletics (PacWest conference); located in La Mirada, CA.
- Nursing program has separate, stricter GPA requirements than general admission.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Biola University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Biola University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Biola University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Biola University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Biola University Without SAT or ACT?
Biola University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Biola University Average SAT Score: 1258
The average SAT score of admitted students at Biola University is 1258 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1258 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1360 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Biola University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1130, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Biola University. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 610 | 550 | 670 |
| SAT Reading | 635 | 580 | 690 |
| SAT Composite | 1258 | 1130 | 1360 |
Below 1130, you're behind most admitted students; at 1360 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into Biola University with a 1350 SAT?
A 1350 SAT puts you ahead of most of Biola University's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Biola University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Biola University is 27.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 27 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 22 | 27 |
| ACT English | 29 | 24 | 33 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 24 | 30 |
Can I get into Biola University with a 30 ACT?
A 30 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Biola University's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Biola University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Biola University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Biola University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Prepare the two required faith essays as genuine narrative, not a checklist
Biola's application requires two specific faith essays: describing how and when the applicant decided to follow Christ (300?400 words for international; 300?800 for domestic per some program tracks) and describing recent spiritual growth using personal examples (300?400 words). These aren't generic "why us" essays - admissions is specifically evaluating a genuine faith narrative, so generic or vague spiritual language will read as inauthentic here.
International applicants should also nail the short "why Biola" essay
International applicants face an additional 100?200 word prompt on why they're interested in Biola specifically - this is separate from the faith essays and should reference concrete programs or aspects of Biola, not just restate interest in studying in the U.S.
Transfer students: know your GPA threshold changes based on credit count
Applicants with 15+ transferable college credits apply as transfers (2.5 GPA minimum) rather than freshmen (3.0 unweighted GPA minimum) - a student close to that 15-credit line should understand which track they'll actually be evaluated under, since it changes both the GPA bar and the required essays.
Apply early to protect maximum scholarship eligibility
Biola advertises its largest scholarships ever for the current cycle (up to $23,500/year) - students should apply as early as possible in the cycle rather than waiting, since scholarship funds and academic merit awards are generally more available earlier.
Expert Insight:
Because the faith essays are core to Biola's evaluation (not just a formality), a student who doesn't hold a genuine Christian faith commitment should not attempt to write around this requirement - misrepresenting a faith statement to gain admission to a mission-driven institution isn't a strategy Claude can responsibly help construct.
Biola University Profile
Full Name
Biola University
City
La Mirada
State
California
ZIP Code
90639-0001
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a Biola University Degree Worth It?
Biola University offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $75,500, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.63%.
How much does a degree from Biola University Cost?
The sticker price is $58,430/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
26% of students receive a Pell Grant and 44.7% take federal loans at Biola University. File your FAFSA early and list Biola University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Biola University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $56,778. That's about 40% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Biola University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | 1213 | 26 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL | 1211 | 26 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Stetson University | DeLand, FL | 1208 | 26 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Biola University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Biola University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
Degree Programs at Biola University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Biola University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Biola University run about $56,778 a year.
At about $58,430 a year, Biola University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 26.0% receive a Pell Grant at Biola University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 60.1%, Biola University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Biola University average a 3.61 GPA.
Biola University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.31 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.21, Biola University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Biola University — aim above 1258, ideally within the 1130–1360 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Biola University is November 30 for Early Application (Fall) applicants. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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