Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University (LLU) is a private, nonprofit Seventh-day Adventist institution in Loma Linda, California, built around education in health professions and whole-person care. Its eight schools span Allied Health Professions, Behavioral Health, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Religion. That breadth makes LLU a destination for professional healthcare training rather than a conventional broad liberal-arts campus. The faith-based identity is part of its educational environment; applicants should consider whether the university’s approach to service, spirituality, and health aligns with their goals as carefully as they compare programs and cost.

Programs and clinical learning

Some of LLU’s best-known paths are its MD, DDS, nursing degrees, PharmD, physical and occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, dental hygiene, and programs in public health and behavioral health. The School of Allied Health Professions also offers focused training in areas such as sonography, radiation therapy, respiratory care, nutrition, and health-care administration. There are online options in selected fields, but format, prerequisites, deadlines, clinical placements, and professional licensing outcomes vary by program. Start with the university’s searchable program directory and confirm details with the school that awards the degree; one university-wide admissions checklist cannot replace each program’s requirements.

Practice is a major part of the experience. LLU describes a single main academic campus supported by six hospitals, a Level I trauma center, clinics, and affiliated community, government, veterans, and military health sites. These are clinical learning locations, not separate general-purpose university campuses. A student’s rotations depend on the degree and clinical placement, so ask where you are likely to train, whether travel is required, and how placement schedules fit with housing and transportation. The university’s clinical training site guide gives examples of its hospital and partner network.

Accreditation and professional preparation

WSCUC lists Loma Linda University as an active, accredited nonprofit institution and reports that it distributes federal financial aid. LLU also identifies the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Adventist Accrediting Association as a denominational accreditor. Individual professional programs hold separate accreditations, which matter for eligibility to sit for licensing or certification examinations. Check the accreditor and state requirements for your exact program: institutional accreditation alone does not guarantee that every degree meets every licensing pathway. LLU’s current catalog describes institutional and program accreditation, while each degree page sets out its own admissions and curriculum details.

The university’s faith identity is visible in its stated commitment to Christian service and whole-person care, and its School of Religion offers its own academic paths. Students from other backgrounds should ask the program how this mission is expressed in coursework, campus life, clinical practice, and any spiritual activities or expectations. A campus visit and a conversation with a current student in your intended field can help you decide whether the environment suits you.

2026–27 costs and financial aid

LLU does not have one tuition price for all students: charges depend heavily on the school, degree, and year of study. The university publishes program-specific cost-of-attendance estimates for 2026–27. As one concrete example, the Doctor of Dental Surgery program cost table lists tuition and fees of $98,888 for year one, $102,288 for year two, and $104,888 for each of years three and four; books and living costs are additional. Other degrees have different rates and schedules. Use the official cost table for your program and housing situation, then request an individualized estimate before accepting an offer.

Eligible students may be considered for federal Pell and SEOG grants, federal work-study and loans, California Cal Grants, institutional loans or scholarships, and outside awards. Health-profession students may also explore National Health Service Corps or Armed Forces scholarships, which can include a service commitment. Funds and eligibility differ by program, citizenship status, and year. LLU advises completing its financial-aid process at least 60 days before program registration to help ensure funding is in place. Review the university’s financial aid resources and net price calculator, and read the award conditions carefully: grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans have very different repayment or service obligations.

Campus address, hours, and clinical locations

WSCUC lists the university at 11060 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350. Student Services is at 11139 Anderson Street; the main university telephone is (909) 558-1000, and general questions can be sent to ask@llu.edu. The main campus listing shows hours Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m.–noon, and closed Saturday and Sunday; particular schools and clinical facilities keep different schedules. Confirm the office hours for your destination before traveling. LLU’s student-facing campus guide and contact directory identify its main services and school admissions offices.

For clinical training, LLU names its adult and children’s hospitals, Medical Center–East Campus, Behavioral Medicine Center, Surgical Hospital, Murrieta hospital campus, dental clinics, and faculty medical clinics, in addition to affiliated health systems. These facilities serve patients and host clinical learning; they do not function as a set of interchangeable academic branches. Ask your program which location applies to your rotations. Prospective students can schedule a campus tour or information session; the university’s campus map helps locate the eight schools and student services on the main site.

What students describe

Student comments often point to a close-knit campus, involved instructors, a strong service ethic, and practical preparation through clinical work. Some reviewers find the workload demanding; others mention that communication, admissions timelines, research approvals, or administrative support can be uneven. A few say the faith-centered environment can feel insular, while others value the sense of community it creates. Experiences vary substantially across schools and degree levels, so ask recent students in your own program about faculty access, scheduling, clinical placements, workload, and support when a problem needs escalation. Public comments are useful questions to take to the department, not a substitute for checking its policies and outcomes.

LLU’s application process differs by program: several professional degrees use centralized application services, while others accept applications directly. Use the university’s application guide to locate the correct route, required documents, and program deadlines, then contact the relevant admissions office before submitting. If you are comparing offers, put the clinical site, full program cost, financial-aid terms, and licensing pathway side by side—not only the headline tuition.