Biola University
Biola University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Biola University Featured Rankings
- #1 Best Online Theology Bachelors
- #1 Online Bachelor’s in Christian Ministry
- #1 Online Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies
- #2 Online Master’s in Theology
- #2 Online Master’s in Biblical Studies
- #3 Best Online MBAs California
- #4 Best CCCU Colleges 2026
- #6 California's Best Online Colleges 2026
- #7 Christian Colleges in California
- #7 Accelerated Online Speech Pathology Masters
- #11 California's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #12 Online Bachelor’s in Psychology
- #15 Private Colleges in California
- #20 Research Universities in California 2026
About Biola University
According to Wikipedia, Biola University is a private, nondenominational, evangelical Christian university in La Mirada, California. It was founded in 1908 as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. It has over 150 programs of study in nine schools offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Biola University's Online Degrees
BS in Business Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Public Relations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
MBA in Master of Business Administration
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Public Relations and Reputation Management
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
Certificate in California Clear Credential Certificate
- Required Credits: 12
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Certificate in Certificate in TESOL
- Required Credits: 21
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Certificate in Child Development Permits Certificate
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction Certificate
- Required Credits: 12
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Certificate in Special Education Certificate
- Required Credits: 12
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
Certificate in Special Education Credential Certificate
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 1-2 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Curriculum, Instruction and Publication
- Required Credits: 41
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Education
- Required Credits: 38-65
- Completion Time: 3.5-4.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Special Education
- Required Credits: 41-59
- Completion Time: 3.5-4.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Teaching
- Required Credits: 30-57
- Completion Time: 3-4 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in TESOL
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Biblical Ministries
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
Certificate in Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies
- Required Credits: 18
- Completion Time: 1 year or less
- Format: Fully online
MA in Bible Exposition
- Required Credits: 49
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Intercultural Studies
- Required Credits: 39
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in New Testament
- Required Credits: 49
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Old Testament
- Required Credits: 49
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
MA in Theology
Degree Concentrations
- Greek and Non-Greek Tracks
- Required Credits: 49
- Completion Time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Applied Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
Biola University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,003 | 74% | 84% | 68% | 1265 | 26 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Biola University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $50,904 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $27,693 |
| 30K - 48K | $24,201 |
| 48K - 75K | $27,376 |
| 75K - 110K | $29,331 |
| 110K+ | $39,686 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Biola University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Biola University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $64,126 a year, and 91% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Biola University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 5,846 | 3,625 | 2,221 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Biola University?
Biola University is located at 13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA 90639-0001.
How Safe is Biola University?
Biola University reported 1.1 violent and property offenses on campus per 1,000 students in 2024, fewer than most midsize residential campuses. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Biola University has a violent crime rate of 0.06% and a property crime rate of 0.06%. La Mirada has a violent crime rate of 0.17% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 1.80%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Biola University Known For?
Biola University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Religious Studies
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Business
- Communications
- Literature
- Education
- Computer Science
- History
- Chemistry
- Anthropology
- Medical
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Biology
- Nursing
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Social Work
Biola University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Biola University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Biola University ranks #19 in the U.S. and #82 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesBiola University ranks #83 in the U.S. and #268 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesBiola University ranks #198 in the U.S. and #480 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesBiola University ranks #222 in the U.S. and #698 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesBiola University ranks #344 in the U.S. and #1244 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesBiola University ranks #344 in the U.S. and #1037 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesBiola University ranks #351 in the U.S. and #1495 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesBiola University ranks #408 in the U.S. and #1890 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesBiola University ranks #428 in the U.S. and #1219 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesBiola University ranks #448 in the U.S. and #2224 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesBiola University ranks #516 in the U.S. and #1586 worldwide for influence in Anthropology.
anthropology DegreesBiola University ranks #550 in the U.S. and #2051 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesBiola University ranks #643 in the U.S. and #2736 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesBiola University ranks #671 in the U.S. and #2280 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesBiola University ranks #690 in the U.S. and #3014 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesBiola University ranks #761 in the U.S. and #1992 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesBiola University ranks #784 in the U.S. and #3320 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesBiola University ranks #805 in the U.S. and #3185 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesBiola University ranks #942 in the U.S. and #5118 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesBiola University ranks #1317 in the U.S. and #3190 worldwide for influence in Social Work.
social-work DegreesWho Are Biola University's Most Influential Alumni?
Biola University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Psychology. Here are some of Biola University's most famous alumni:
- Daniel B. Wallace
- A Professor of theology.
- Michael Horton
- An American theologian.
- R. Kent Hughes
- An American pastor.
- Danny Yamashiro
- An American radio evangelist.
- Dave Hunt
- A Christian apologist.
- Mark L. Strauss
- An American biblical scholar.
- Clyde Cook
- An American academic administrator .
- Scott B. Rae
- A Theologian.
- Harold A. Netland
- An American missionary.
- J. Richard Chase
- An American historian.
- William J. Samarin
- An American linguist .
- Allan MacRae
- An American theologian.
