Woodbury University Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

In 2024, Woodbury University became a subsidiary of the University of Redlands, a larger private university in Southern California. This institutional change is recent enough that its full implications for curriculum, faculty, shared services, financial aid, and long-term program stability are still being worked out. Prospective students should ask the admissions office directly: what programs remain under Woodbury's own leadership, what services or courses are now shared with or through Redlands, whether Woodbury's WASC accreditation is unchanged and independent, and what happens to enrolled students' degrees if the institutional relationship evolves further. This is not a disqualifying development - but it is a current-cycle institutional fact that every student should understand before committing.

Woodbury's Bachelor of Architecture is a five-year, 160-credit NAAB-accredited professional degree, not a four-year program. The B.Arch is the primary licensure-track architecture degree in the United States, and Woodbury's program is structured around a sequential studio curriculum with an emphasis on social responsibility, sustainability, and real-world urban challenges. NAAB accreditation was reaffirmed in 2023 with the next visit scheduled for 2030. The interior design BFA is CIDA- and NASAD-accredited. Students applying to architecture who expect a four-year timeline are planning incorrectly - the five-year structure affects housing costs, financial aid planning, and graduation timeline in ways that should be built into the family's full cost calculation before enrollment.

Woodbury requires all students in all majors to complete an internship as a condition of graduation. The Burbank/Los Angeles location provides direct access to the entertainment industry (Disney, Warner Bros., studios in Burbank and Glendale), architecture and design firms throughout the LA metro, and business and technology employers across Southern California. This mandatory internship structure means that Woodbury's proximity to these industries is not just a location amenity - it is built into the degree requirements. Students who are not prepared to actively pursue internship placements in a competitive Southern California market, or who don't plan to leverage the LA industry ecosystem during their enrollment, may find the requirement more stressful than they anticipated. Ask admissions what institutional support exists for sourcing internships, particularly in your specific field of interest.

Woodbury University has a test-blind admissions policy - meaning SAT and ACT scores are not reviewed or considered in admissions decisions even if submitted. This is a more aggressive stance than test-optional, where scores can help when strong. At Woodbury, the evaluation centers entirely on transcripts, portfolio (where required by program), and other materials. Students who have strong test scores should not assume those scores will strengthen their Woodbury application - they won't be seen. Conversely, students with weaker test scores who have strong GPAs, creative portfolios, and relevant experience should not self-select out of Woodbury based on score concerns. The evaluation is genuinely holistic in the non-score sense, focused on academic record, creative work, and demonstrated interest.