Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Biola University #1179 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,702 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Biola University in the 37.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Biola University #894 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Biola University's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across multiple dimensions, including earnings and return on investment. Graduates consistently achieve higher-than-expected earnings compared with similar students at other institutions, supported by the university's focus on career-aligned programs.
Azimuth ranks Biola University #1179 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in La Mirada, CA, Biola University enrolls roughly 3,474 undergraduates. Retention is 83.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.6%, reflecting solid progress toward degree completion. Where Biola University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Biola University #894 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,363, and they earn about $4,702 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Biola University in the 37.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Visual & Performing Arts, where graduates move into careers with solid long-term financial trajectories. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Biola University sits in the 45.3 percentile for access and the 9.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a private institution, tuition and cost of attendance are higher than at public universities, though need-based aid reshapes the net price for families that qualify. The institution enrolls 26.0% Pell-eligible students and 23.6% first-generation college students, reflecting a commitment to serving students beyond the traditional private-university demographic. Mobility outcomes sit in the 43.9 percentile, indicating that low-income and first-generation graduates achieve meaningful upward economic progress relative to comparable institutions.
Biola University's published cost of attendance is $62,757. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $27,144, middle-income families pay around $26,825, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,314. Azimuth ranks Biola University #1284 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Biola University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for many students, though the institution's affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry. Net price and sticker price can differ substantially, but understanding how much aid reshapes the published cost is essential to evaluating true affordability for your family's income level. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,875, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $50,726; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,363, median federal debt of $23,875 projects to a monthly payment of about $270 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Biola University is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a private Christian university experience in CA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,363, placing Biola University in the 51.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,702 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 37.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 26.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.6% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the $37,314 published cost and what families actually pay. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 74.4% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors arts-oriented fields over STEM or business. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in CA.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Biola University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Biola University's published cost of attendance is $62,757. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $27,144, middle-income families pay around $26,825, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,314.
Azimuth ranks Biola University #1284 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Biola University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for many students, though the institution's affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry. [Net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), but understanding how much aid reshapes the published cost is essential to evaluating true affordability for your family's income level.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,875, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $50,726; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,363, median federal debt of $23,875 projects to a monthly payment of about $270 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Biola University earn median 4-year earnings of $61,363, placing the institution in the 51.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,702 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Biola University in the 37.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Biola University #894 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Biola University's concentration in Visual & Performing Arts.
Business Administration is the largest program with 106 graduates, while The Psychology, General program graduates 97 students earning median 4-year earnings of $49,450 — 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. Film/Video and Photographic Arts and Nursing together graduate 75 and 55 students respectively, with Nursing graduates earning $111,200 at 1.3× the field benchmark.
Biology, General rounds out the top five with 54 graduates earning $60,014, or 1.0× the national benchmark.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
55 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
17 graduates
Computer Science
15 graduates
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
50 graduates
Political Science and Government
11 graduates
Biola University's program mix centers on visual and performing arts, reflecting the institution's creative and faith-based identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 106 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 97 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,450, Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 75 graduates, Nursing with 55 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $111,200, and Biology, General with 54 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $60,014.
The highest-earning programs at Biola University reflect the institution's strength in applied professional and health-related fields. Nursing leads with 55 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $111,200, followed by Communication Disorders Sciences and Services with 50 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $69,087, Biology, General with 54 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $60,014, Journalism with 23 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $59,925, and Teacher Education with 36 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,566.
This earnings distribution reflects a portfolio where professional and healthcare pathways complement the institution's core creative and arts-focused mission. Biola University's program signature balances Arts at 15%, Business at 15%, and Education at 6%, creating a distinctive mix that serves students with varied career interests.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern University Similar quality tier (#31671 ranked) | PA | 91% | $51,655 | #31671 | Compare |
Hampton University Similar quality tier (#31153 ranked) | VA | 62% | $59,159 | #31153 | Compare |
Carson-Newman University Similar quality tier (#31151 ranked) | TN | 90% | $48,382 | #31151 | Compare |
Texas Lutheran University Similar quality tier (#31679 ranked) | TX | 96% | $53,863 | #31679 | Compare |
Calvin University Similar quality tier (#31682 ranked) | MI | 71% | $58,375 | #31682 | Compare |
