Biola University vs Widener

Biola University and Widener University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Biola, a private Christian university in La Mirada, California, boasts a strong acceptance rate of 75% and a student body that is predominantly female (60%). In contrast, Widener, a private university with campuses in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware, has a lower acceptance rate of 68% and a more balanced gender ratio. While Biola's popular majors include Biblical Studies, Psychology, and Business Administration, Widener's strengths lie in Engineering, Nursing, and Business. With graduation rates of 68% and 75% respectively, both universities demonstrate a commitment to student success. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Biola University logo

Biola University

Widener University logo

Widener University

Overview

Location La Mirada, California Chester, Pennsylvania
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 88.0% 85.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Undenominational

Admission

Acceptance rate 60.8% 84.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $65
$35
SAT range 1103 - 1348 1080 - 1275
ACT range 22 - 29 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 26.0% 28.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0%
Total number of applicants 4,354 5,719
Total number of admissions given out 2,646 4,834
Admitted students who chose to enroll 655 608
Yield rate 24.8% 12.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $59,500 $61,748
Average net price $29,123 $25,343
Tuition $44,382 $48,724
Room & board $10,202
Room/dormitory: $7,748

Meal plan: $7,060
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $28,421
100.0%
Average amount $32,036
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $4,897
75.0%
Average amount $5,440
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $15,279
24.0%
Average amount $12,154

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,596
Men 38.0% Women 62.0%
2,766
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
Graduate students 1,955
Men 54.5% Women 45.5%
3,109
Men 28.1% Women 71.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 28.6% 40.5%
International students 9.2% 2.0%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,750 1,400
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 Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland Delaware New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Theology
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Business
  • Psychology
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 69.9% 68.4%
Dropout rate 6.1% 7.7%
Transferred out 22.7% 23.5%
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 (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,072
  • Year 2: $69,023
  • Year 3: $78,834
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,872
  • Year 2: $72,274
  • Year 3: $77,715
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,994
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $74,855
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $71,854
  • Year 3: $74,433
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,168
  • Year 2: $50,606
  • Year 3: $72,346
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,959
  • Year 2: $63,275
  • Year 3: $70,157
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,088
  • Year 2: $60,320
  • Year 3: $69,444
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,960
  • Year 2: $55,632
  • Year 3: $65,158
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,724
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: $63,971
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,130
  • Year 2: $59,640
  • Year 3: $63,186

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