Biola University
Biola University is a private evangelical Christian university in La Mirada, California, about 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, founded in 1908 as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Every student, professor, and staff member professes faith in Christ, and Biola weighs religious affiliation and commitment as the single most important factor in admission, above grades or test scores. Biola admits roughly 78% of applicants, and enrolled first-years post an average high school GPA near 3.64 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1150–1390. The visual and performing arts lead all degree areas at about 19% of bachelor's degrees, anchored by the Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts, one of the most recognized Christian film programs in the country, while Talbot School of Theology and strong business, health, and psychology programs round out the core. Biola is test-optional, retains about 88% of first-years, and houses 84% of them on campus.
See how Biola compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Biola admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Action
Biola offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Biola is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Admissions Factors
How Biola weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Biola's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Biola application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Biola and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Biola admissions
Is it hard to get into Biola University?＋
Not especially, at least by the numbers: Biola admitted about 78% of applicants in its most recent cycle, roughly 2,858 offers from 3,656 applications. The bigger filter is fit. Biola is an evangelical Christian university where every student professes faith in Christ, and it weighs religious affiliation and commitment as its single most important admission factor, ahead of GPA, essays, or test scores.
Do you have to be a Christian to get into Biola?＋
Faith is central to admission at Biola. Religious affiliation and commitment is the only factor Biola rates as 'very important' in its review, and applicants articulate their Christian testimony in the personal essay. You do not need a particular denomination, since Biola is nondenominational evangelical, but a genuine profession of Christian faith is expected of every admitted student.
What GPA do you need to get into Biola?＋
Enrolled first-years at Biola average about a 3.64 high school GPA, and roughly 70% carried a 3.5 or higher. There is no hard cutoff, and academic GPA is weighed as 'important' rather than the top factor, so a record a bit below that average can still be competitive when paired with a strong faith statement and essay.
Is a 1300 SAT good enough for Biola?＋
Yes, a 1300 is a strong score for Biola. It lands above the median of enrolled first-years, whose middle 50% scored 1150–1390 on the SAT (23–30 on the ACT) with a median near 1270. Biola is test-optional, so scores are considered only if you choose to submit them, and just under a quarter of recent first-years sent SAT results.
Does Biola University have Early Decision or Early Action?＋
Biola offers a non-binding Early Action plan and does not offer Early Decision. Early Action lets you apply early and hear back sooner without committing to enroll, and the plan is not restrictive, so you can still apply early to other schools. Across all plans, Biola admitted about 78% of applicants and enrolled roughly 838 first-years in the most recent cycle.
What are the most popular majors at Biola, and what is it known for?＋
The visual and performing arts are the largest area at about 19% of bachelor's degrees, anchored by the Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts, one of the most recognized Christian film programs in the country. Business and marketing and the health professions follow at roughly 15% each, then psychology (11%) and theology and religious studies (8%). Biola's Talbot School of Theology and its required Bible coursework also shape the academic core.
How much does Biola cost, and what financial aid is available?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $52,944 per year, with on-campus food and housing adding roughly $14,268 on top. Aid is widely awarded: about 64% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, the average need-based package is around $35,342, and Biola meets about 66% of demonstrated financial need on average.
Does the application essay matter at Biola?＋
Yes, and at Biola the essay carries unusual weight. The application essay is rated an 'important' factor, and the personal statement is also where you articulate your Christian faith, which is the most important factor in Biola's review. Between a holistic read and a faith-aware process, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways to show who you are beyond your transcript.
Source: Biola University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. 6-Year Graduation Rate is from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Biola. Banner photo by Daryn Bartlett, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0).