C+
Above Average
Score: 55/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
62/100 · earnings-weighted

La Sierra University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Riverside, California 92505
La Sierra University campus, Riverside, CA
La Sierra University campus, Riverside, CA. Photo: DEGA MD, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B+
79/100
Affordability
F
21/100
Resources
C
54/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
D
30/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

1,611
Total Enrollment
68%
Graduation Rate
82%
Retention Rate
11.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
93%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at La Sierra University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$61,824
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$42,617
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$27,000
Median debt at graduation
59.7%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
23
Median ACT
47.3%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 44% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 54th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at La Sierra University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Social Work$42,213$69,244+34%#3 of 420#12$35,167
Accounting and Related Services—$59,153-22%#733 of 796#785$25,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations$35,477$56,939-17%#905 of 1176#1078$26,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$25,899$55,711+2%#227 of 610#421$25,416
Criminal Justice and Corrections$34,885$53,902-3%#366 of 660#561$31,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities—$51,085-4%#275 of 476#387$26,000
Psychology—$49,265-3%#582 of 1027#866$26,500
Marketing—$48,040-31%#501 of 516#513$26,000

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The La Sierra University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $638,970
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,410/mo — vs ~$553/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 92337 (4.1% cap, Fontana)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where La Sierra University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#7
Pre-Nursing Studies
of 21 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $34,920 $34,920
Room $4,980
Board $6,690
Total Cost (On-Campus) $52,908 $52,908

Financial Aid

99%
Receive Any Aid
50%
Receive Pell Grants
66%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 53 grads/yr Health/Health Care Administration/Management 42 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 35 grads/yr Curriculum and Instruction 33 grads/yr Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services 31 grads/yr Pre-Nursing Studies 29 grads/yr Marketing/Marketing Management, General 27 grads/yr Biomedical Sciences, General 21 grads/yr Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other 15 grads/yr Psychology, General 13 grads/yr Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Professions, Other 13 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 13 grads/yr Finance, General 12 grads/yr School Psychology 10 grads/yr Social Work 8 grads/yr Computer Science 6 grads/yr Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General 6 grads/yr Divinity/Ministry 5 grads/yr Neuroscience 5 grads/yr Health Services Administration 5 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from La Sierra University's top programs commonly pursue.

First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$106k/yr 160,800 jobs
First-line supervisors of correctional officers
$76k/yr 57,100 jobs
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
$71k/yr 16,200 jobs
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
$60k/yr 83,200 jobs
Medical and health services managers
$118k/yr 616,200 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs

Student Demographics

1,611
Total Students
58%
Women
86%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 13%
Hispanic 46%
Black 8%
Asian 17%
Two or More 6%
Non-Resident 9%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 99%
Hybrid (Some Online) 1%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 86%
25-64 (Adult) 6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at La Sierra University?
La Sierra University has an acceptance rate of 93%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend La Sierra University?
Tuition at La Sierra University is $34,920 for in-state students and $34,920 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at La Sierra University?
The graduation rate at La Sierra University is 68%. This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is La Sierra University a good school?
La Sierra University has a Repit College Score of 55/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend La Sierra University?
La Sierra University has a total enrollment of 1,611 students. Most students (86%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for La Sierra University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to La Sierra University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · 4,494 students
C+
Concordia University-Irvine
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C+
The Master's University and Seminary
Santa Clarita, CA · 2,799 students
C+
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · 2,775 students
C+
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA · 2,308 students
C+
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA · 4,202 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology