Loyola Marymount University

Private · Selective · CA

Photo: Mishigaki at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationCA · West

SettingUrban

Undergrads7,094

Student:faculty10:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate68%

6-yr grad rate78.9%

Drop-out rate11.4%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$62k

Out-of-state tuition$62k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity61.8%

Gender diversity52.2%

International9.4%

IdentityRoman Catholic

Overview

LMU is a Jesuit and Marymount university on a bluff in west Los Angeles, with sweeping views of the Pacific and the LA basin from a campus often cited as one of the most scenic in the country. Its identity blends Catholic mission-driven education with proximity to the entertainment and business industries of Los Angeles, and the Jesuit emphasis on service and ethical reasoning runs through the curriculum regardless of major.

Academics

The School of Film and Television is one of the university's signature strengths, benefiting directly from LA industry connections for internships, guest lecturers, and mentorship that few film programs outside the immediate Los Angeles industry can offer. The College of Business Administration is also well regarded, particularly for entrepreneurship and marketing, and engineering, housed within the Seaver science and engineering programs, has grown into a respected offering despite its smaller size. The core curriculum requires coursework in philosophy and theology alongside the major, reflecting the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person rather than training narrowly for a career. Class sizes are generally small and discussion-based, even in introductory courses.

Campus & student life

The bluff-top campus is largely residential, with a strong sense of community reinforced by the university's Catholic identity, though students of many faiths and backgrounds attend and the religious atmosphere is felt more through service requirements and campus ministry than strict observance. LA's beaches, studios, and downtown are all within reach, and many students take advantage of entertainment-industry internships during the academic year given the location, sometimes juggling coursework with actual production work. Athletics compete at the Division I level in the West Coast Conference, with men's and women's basketball drawing particular attention and a lively student section built around the program's history of NCAA tournament runs.

Getting in

LMU's process is holistic, with essays and demonstrated interest carrying real weight, especially for students applying to the film school, which often has its own supplemental requirements, portfolio expectations, or separate review from the general applicant pool. The university looks for evidence of service and community involvement consistent with its Jesuit mission, and it draws heavily from California and the broader West Coast, though its national profile has grown considerably in recent years.

After graduation

Film and television graduates place into the LA entertainment industry at a level few other schools can match given the direct pipeline of alumni working in production, studios, and networks across the city. Business and communications graduates lean toward West Coast careers more broadly, in industries from entertainment to finance to nonprofit management. The alumni network is particularly strong within entertainment and media, where LMU graduates are represented at a level disproportionate to the university's overall size.

Worth knowing

Students should know that LMU retains a genuine religious character even as it draws a diverse, national student body across many faiths, and that the film school's location advantage is one of the most concrete industry pipelines among Catholic universities anywhere in the country. The bluff-top setting, prized for its views, also means the campus is somewhat removed from LA's urban core, so a car or reliable transit access matters for students hoping to take full advantage of the city.

lmu.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate45.1%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1260–1430 · ACT 28–32

Test policyoptional

Rec letters1

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Early decisionNov 1

Regular decisionJan 15

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App, Coalition (Scoir), or Own application.

Early decision IIJan 8

Financial aid formsFeb 1

Early Decision (both rounds) is a binding commitment to enroll if admitted, while Early Action lets you apply by the same November deadline without any obligation to attend.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗