Undergraduate Admissions Policies
High School Record
An applicant for regular standing must be a graduate of an accredited high school with a scholastic record which indicates ability to pursue higher education successfully.
Biola University welcomes applications from students who have been home-schooled. Details on the admissions process may be found below. A transcript showing high school work completed and an application essay are required. GED scores may be requested at the discretion of the Director of Admissions. Students must be 17 years of age by the time of enrollment at the university. Home-schooled students are eligible to qualify for all merit scholarships.
The applicant must have a high school diploma. The following is a recommended college prep curriculum: English (four years), mathematics (three years), science (two years, including a laboratory science), foreign language (four years), social science (two years). Additional high school course electives are recommended as well. Prospective students interested in the nursing program are encouraged to take chemistry and algebra in high school.
Applicants are urged to have at least two years in one foreign language in high school. Students who have completed one or more years of study in a language they will study at Biola must take a placement exam to determine their correct course placement. Students with no foreign language in high school, or those wishing to begin a new language in college to meet the Core Curriculum requirement, must take 4 to 8 credits of foreign language, depending on their major. Catalog information regarding each major will indicate any exceptions to this rule.
Admission Procedure
The following must be filed in seeking admission:
- The personal application form. The application for admission must be accompanied by a $45 non-refundable application fee (waived with the code found in the application).
- An official high school transcript. The applicant should request the high school to send this directly to the Office of Admissions. High school transcripts are not required for transfer students with 15 or more transferable credits.
- An official transcript sent directly to the Office of Admissions from each school the applicant has attended since high school. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to Biola by the previous institution(s) attended or physically delivered in an untampered envelope sealed by the institution. This includes schools attended for even part of a semester. Those applying to the education or nursing programs should have an additional copy of each school's transcript sent directly to the appropriate department.
- Biola is a Test-Optional university. We do not require freshman applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. The Office of Admissions will continue to make admissions offers and award academic scholarships based on students' academic achievement, spiritual commitment, and their ability to succeed at Biola. If students have taken these tests, they may submit their scores to strengthen their overall academic qualifications and reduce the need for placement exams later in the enrollment process. We do not penalize students who do not submit test scores. Note: International students are still required to submit one test score for proof of English proficiency (SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, or IB English). To request a special circumstance review, please contact international.coordinator@biola.edu.
- An application essay. Students must send in their response to the provided essay prompt in order to complete their application.
- The regular application deadline for fall is March 1 and for spring is November 30. Applications may be submitted after deadlines and will be considered and processed if space is available and time allows.
Application Deadlines
Fall
| File Completed By | Notification |
|---|---|
| November 30 (Early Action #1) 1 | January 15 |
| January 15 (Early Action #2) 1 | February 15 |
| March 1 (Regular Deadline) | April 1 |
Files completed after March 1 will be processed on a bi-monthly basis with notification of admittance beginning after April 1. Applications are considered late after March 1 and will be processed if space is available and time allows.
- 1
If a student submits their application by an Early Action deadline, they will learn about admittance earlier than the standard application and notification dates. Early Action is non-binding.
Spring
| File Completed By | Notification |
|---|---|
| October 15 | Rolling Basis |
Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student's academic file and cannot be returned or copied for distribution.
Home-Schooled Students
Home-schooled students seeking admission can apply by one of two means:
Standard Procedure
Applicants must submit an application along with high school transcripts and an application essay. Contact the Office of Admissions for transcript guidelines.
Procedure Without Transcripts
Applicants must submit an application along with the GED or State Certificate of High School Proficiency and an application essay.
Please contact a Biola Transfer Counselor or a Transfer Evaluator with any questions regarding courses at a community college.
Notification
Applicants who are granted acceptance are required to validate their acceptance by the payment of an enrollment deposit of $300 (non-refundable after May 1).
Accompanying the letter of acceptance will be a health form, which must be properly completed by both the applicant and the applicant's physician prior to enrollment. A medical consent form is also required of single students under the age of 18 at the time of entrance.
Transfer Students
See the Transfer Policies section for transfer information, including the Advanced Placement Program (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate Program (IB).
Distance Education
Subject to department approval, Biola University will accept credit for equivalent courses from schools accredited by regional or national agencies recognized by CHEA (Council for Higher Education Administration), including online or correspondence courses.
