Admit rate has ranged 40%–50% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private Jesuit university perched on a stunning 150-acre campus in Los Angeles, blending rigorous academics with a vibrant, socially active student body. Known for its strong programs in film, business, and STEM, LMU offers a tight-knit community where 45% of applicants get in, but the median family income of $163,700 hints at its affluent student demographic. With a 82% graduation rate and mid-career salaries averaging $144,000, LMU graduates thrive—but at a steep price tag of $61,862 per year.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
7,094
In-state tuition
$62,357
Out-of-state tuition
$62,357
Campus Size
150 acres
Acceptance Rate
45%
Graduation Rate
82%
Student-Faculty Ratio
14:1
Avg Financial Aid Package
$41,796
Median Early-Career Salary
$77,000
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$78,349
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.6×
Median debt at graduation
$19,500
Graduation rate
79%
First-year retention
89%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
78%
Pell (lower-income) share
38%
First-generation share
22%
Endowment / student
$101,497
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer and Information Sciences, General$72,796
Civil Engineering$67,995
Accounting and Related Services$67,240
Finance and Financial Management Services$60,358
Mechanical Engineering$57,318
Marketing$50,802
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
8
Per 1,000 students
1.13
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
263
Summer high
75°F
Winter low
46°F
Annual rain
17.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
202
Scholarly works
10,975
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.5%
Bottom → top quintile
46%
From bottom quintile
5%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Loyola Marymount University?
Loyola Marymount University's acceptance rate is approximately 45% (Los Angeles, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Loyola Marymount University?
Admitted students at Loyola Marymount University typically score 1260–1430 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Loyola Marymount University cost?
At Loyola Marymount University, the average net price (after aid) is about $48,381 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Loyola Marymount University?
Loyola Marymount University enrolls approximately 7,094 undergraduate students.
Where is Loyola Marymount University located?
Loyola Marymount University is located in Los Angeles, CA.
Admissions
LMU's admissions are moderately selective, with a 45% acceptance rate for the Fall 2023 first-year class (down from 51% the prior year). The middle 50% SAT range is 1230–1380, and ACT scores fall between 27–31. Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policies are in place, but competitive applicants typically present a weighted GPA around 3.6+. The university received 23,000 applications for just 1,695 spots in the most recent cycle, with a gender split of 45% male and 55% female. Early applicants enjoy a slight edge, with a 59% acceptance rate compared to the regular decision pool.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Economics
$47,260
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$42,235
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics
LMU offers 55 undergraduate majors and 58 minors, with standout programs in film production (thanks to its LA proximity), business, and engineering. Students can double- or even triple-major, supported by a 14:1 student-faculty ratio and small class sizes. The Jesuit emphasis on critical thinking permeates the curriculum, with Reddit users praising the 'caring professors' and 'great class sizes.' Graduate options include 46 master’s programs and four doctorates, with interdisciplinary opportunities encouraged. The university’s STEM offerings are growing, leveraging its tech-adjacent location.
Life at LMU revolves around its picturesque campus (think palm trees and ocean views) and 200+ student clubs, from surfing to social justice groups. Though Greek life lacks houses, fraternities and sororities are 'very active,' per Reddit. The arts scene thrives, with student films and gallery shows, while LA’s entertainment industry provides internships. A Reddit user notes the campus is 'full of very rich kids,' and the NYT reports 65% of students come from the top 20% income bracket. Weekend highlights include beach trips, Lakers games, and exploring LA’s food scene.
LMU boasts an 82% graduation rate, with graduates earning a median early-career salary of $77,000 that jumps to $144,000 by mid-career. The average time to degree is 4.2 years, and 95% of student-athletes graduate (per 2023 data). However, median student debt is $19,500, and only 2.5% of students come from low-income families. Alumni networks are strong in LA’s entertainment, tech, and business sectors, with many landing jobs at studios, startups, or Jesuit-affiliated organizations.
Tuition and fees hit $61,862 annually, though the average financial aid package is $41,796, reducing the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $54,471 for many. 44% of first-years receive need-based aid, with average grants of $38,804. The Net Price Calculator helps estimate costs, but the NYT notes the median family income here is $163,700—suggesting aid skews toward higher earners. Merit scholarships are competitive, with no mention of full-ride options in the sources.
LMU merges Jesuit rigor with LA’s creative energy, offering unparalleled access to internships at Sony, SpaceX, or Skid Row nonprofits. Its film program rivals USC’s but with smaller classes, while the bluff-top campus feels like a resort (minus the frat houses). The downside? Its affluent student body can feel insular, and the price tag demands serious aid or family wealth. For those who fit—or can fund—the mold, LMU delivers strong outcomes in a sun-soaked, industry-connected bubble.
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