University of San Diego vs Biola University

Nestled in the vibrant city of San Diego, California, University of San Diego (USD) and Biola University, located in the charming city of La Mirada, California, stand as two distinct institutions of higher learning. While both universities offer a transformative educational experience, they possess unique characteristics that set them apart. USD boasts a diverse student body, with an acceptance rate of 65%, while Biola maintains a more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 49%. In terms of academic offerings, USD excels in business and engineering, whereas Biola shines in the fields of nursing and biblical studies. Discover more intriguing differences between these two esteemed universities by exploring the comprehensive comparison table provided on this page. Delve into the details to uncover the institution that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Biola University logo

Biola University

University of San Diego logo

University of San Diego

Overview

Location La Mirada, California San Diego, California
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 88.0% 92.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Undenominational Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 60.8% 52.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $45
SAT range 1103 - 1348 N/A
ACT range 22 - 29 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 26.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0%
Total number of applicants 4,354 14,326
Total number of admissions given out 2,646 7,550
Admitted students who chose to enroll 655 1,166
Yield rate 24.8% 15.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $59,500 $75,982
Average net price $29,123 $34,155
Tuition $44,382 $52,120
Room & board $10,202 $16,246
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $28,421
82.0%
Average amount $34,413
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $4,897
33.0%
Average amount $5,216
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $15,279
5.0%
Average amount $12,155

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,596
Men 38.0% Women 62.0%
5,702
Men 43.9% Women 56.1%
Graduate students 1,955
Men 54.5% Women 45.5%
3,339
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 28.6% 45.5%
International students 9.2% 6.2%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,750 2,484
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Oregon Texas Colorado California Washington Colorado Arizona Nevada

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Theology
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Psychology
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 69.9% 80.0%
Dropout rate 6.1% 19.5%
Transferred out 22.7% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,482
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $86,424
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,587
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $72,963
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,111
  • Year 2: $44,711
  • Year 3: $53,447
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,980
  • Year 2: $51,273
  • Year 3: $52,274
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,574
  • Year 2: $26,585
  • Year 3: $44,140
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,811
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $43,156
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,228
  • Year 2: $35,772
  • Year 3: $41,681
Religious Education (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,993
  • Year 2: $26,933
  • Year 3: $41,017
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,448
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $40,971
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,443
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $40,650
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $114,672
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $115,744
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,123
  • Year 2: $89,672
  • Year 3: $102,690
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,786
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $98,598
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,329
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: $93,985
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,367
  • Year 2: $73,391
  • Year 3: $92,346
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,417
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $84,924
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,970
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $84,277
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,809
  • Year 2: $61,962
  • Year 3: $75,083
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,424
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $72,729
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,434
  • Year 2: $61,069
  • Year 3: $72,310

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