University of the West

Private · Moderately Selective · CA

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationCA · West

SettingSuburban

Undergrads32

Student:faculty4:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate6.2%

6-yr grad rate37.5%

Drop-out rate50%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$15k

Out-of-state tuition$15k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity96.9%

Gender diversity71.9%

International59.4%

Identity—

Overview

University of the West, in Rosemead in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles, was founded by the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order and remains one of the few American universities built around a Buddhist studies foundation. It combines a small liberal-arts and business curriculum with academic programs in Buddhist studies and religious studies, drawing a notably international student body, particularly from Taiwan and other parts of Asia. The campus culture reflects this dual identity: a conventional American undergraduate and graduate program layered onto a contemplative, temple-affiliated institution.

Academics

Buddhist studies and business make up a large share of the academic identity, with the business programs historically drawing many international graduate students. Class sizes are small across the board, and the Buddhist studies faculty give the university an academic depth in that field unusual for a school of its size, supported by close ties to the adjacent Hsi Lai Temple.

Campus & student life

The Rosemead campus sits beside Hsi Lai Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in the Western Hemisphere, and campus life carries a quieter, contemplative character than a typical American college, with meditation and Buddhist practice visible parts of student life even for students not studying religion. The student body is compact and heavily international, with fewer of the traditions, such as big-time athletics or Greek life, associated with larger campuses.

uwest.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate100%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters—

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying