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La Sierra University

La Sierra University

Riverside, CA · City · 1,116 students
4
Year
Private Non-profit
City
Small (<3k)
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

La Sierra University, a private Seventh-day Adventist institution in Riverside, California, is best known for its exceptional campus diversity, service-learning ethos, and robust health science preparation. As a primary feeder school to the renowned Loma Linda University Medical Center, it excels in pre-medical, biology, and nursing pathways, alongside highly regarded programs in business, criminal justice, and music. Student life is rooted in a close-knit, faith-centered community that prioritizes holistic well-being, social justice, and active participation in local and global service initiatives. Notably, the entire 150-acre campus doubles as a designated arboretum, offering students a tranquil, botanical setting for academic and personal growth.


Wikipedia:La Sierra University is a private, Seventh-day Adventist university in Riverside, California. Founded in 1922 as La Sierra Academy, it later became La Sierra College, a liberal arts college, and then was merged into Loma Linda University (LLU) in 1967 and became the Loma Linda University La Sierra College of Arts and Sciences. In 1990, the La Sierra Campus separated from Loma Linda University to become La Sierra University, an independent institution. It is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA), and several discipline-based accrediting bodies.

Location
Riverside, CA, 92505-8247 · City campus
Nearest airport from college
SNA · Orange County
27 mi away
Cost
Cost of attendance
$51,459
Avg net price
$45,566
Room & board
$13,431
Tuition
$37,710
Books & supplies
$1,062/yr
Average net price by family income
$0–30k
$44,988
$30–48k
$44,593
$48–75k
$45,518
$75–110k
$47,266
$110k+
$45,999
Admissions
Admit rate
92%
Test policy
Not required
ACT midpoint
23

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Essay Requirements

La Sierra University accepts the Common Application. All Common App schools require the personal statement essay. Some schools also require supplemental essays — check the school's page on Common App for current prompts and word limits.

See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.

Outcomes
Graduation rate
64%
4-yr on-time completion
43%
1st-yr retention
77%
Transfer-out rate
16%
8-year outcomes
Graduated
50%
Transferred
22%
Still enrolled
0%
Dropped out / unknown
28%
Median earnings (6yr)
$42,617
Median earnings (10yr)
$61,824
Median debt
$27,000
Monthly loan payment
$286
Debt range (25th–75th)
$7,500$31,000
Debt (90th percentile)
$42,666
Student Body
Men 42%Women 58%
12
:
1
Student : Faculty ratio
Students   Faculty
Pell grant recipients
47%
First-generation
40%
Median family income
$39,628
Independent students
16%
Avg age at entry
21.0
Part-time students
5%
Race & ethnicity
White
9%
Hispanic
54%
Black
7%
Asian
15%
Two or more
7%
Non-resident
6%
NH/PI
2%
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings for graduates across all programs
6 years after entry
$42,617
10 years after entry
$61,824
Criminal Justice and Corrections61
Biology, General23
Business Administration, Management and Operations22
Public Health19
Marketing19
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs18
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness13
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities12
Psychology, General12
Social Work12
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions10
Finance and Financial Management Services9
History7
Computer Science6
Neurobiology and Neurosciences6
Design and Applied Arts5
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Endowment
$121M
Classification
Master's (Medium)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions
Full-time faculty
64%
Avg faculty salary
$8,396/mo
Instructional spend/student
$13,162
Federal loan rate
59%

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