La Sierra University

La Sierra University is a private nonprofit Seventh-day Adventist university in Riverside, California, with a wide academic range spanning the arts, sciences, business, education, social work, and theology. Its faith-based identity is visible in campus life and the H.M.S. Richards Divinity School, while students can also pursue fields such as computer science, nursing pathways, animation, biology, criminal justice, and health-care management. That mix may suit students who want a residential, religiously affiliated university with both professional and liberal-arts options. Before applying, consider two practical questions: whether its faith commitments fit your expectations, and how the current accreditation warning affects your particular program and future plans.

Programs and academic paths

The university lists more than 80 undergraduate majors and over 35 graduate fields, plus pre-health preparation. At the undergraduate level, examples include business and analytics, computer science, biological and biomedical sciences, animation and digital media, education, psychology, social work, and theology. Graduate options include master’s and doctoral study in education and leadership, counseling, business, social work, divinity, public health, and related sciences. Students interested in medicine or pharmacy can follow advising and prerequisite pathways, including a biochemistry-to-PharmD plan that transfers to Loma Linda University for the professional degree; the PharmD is not completed at La Sierra itself.

Program structure and delivery differ. The Evening Adult Degree Program is designed for working adults, while select digital-learning and graduate programs have different tuition rules from main-campus undergraduate study. Use the university’s program directory to inspect majors, degree requirements, and application links. Ask the department about course rotation, internship or clinical placement support, transfer-credit evaluation, and whether a desired concentration is available every year.

Accreditation status: read this carefully

La Sierra remains accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), but its current status is “Accredited on Warning.” WSCUC issued the warning after an accreditation visit in June 2026, and the university confirms the warning on its own accreditation page. This is a formal finding that the institution is out of compliance with one or more accreditation standards; it is not the same as losing accreditation. Because this status can matter to transfer plans, graduate-school applications, and confidence in long-term program continuity, applicants should read the latest commission action and the university’s response, then ask admissions or the relevant department for a written explanation of any implications for their program. The university also lists separate program accreditations and approvals, which should be checked individually.

2026–27 costs and aid to compare

For traditional undergraduates taking 12–18 units, the published 2026–27 tuition is $13,000 per quarter, or $39,000 over the three-quarter academic year, plus $990 in annual required fees. The listed commuting tuition-and-fee total is $39,990. The estimated full cost-of-attendance budget is $60,450 for a student in university housing, $62,595 living with family, or $76,997 off campus; those budgets include estimated living and personal expenses and are not amounts billed by the university. Summer study, course fees, books, and individual circumstances can change the total. Graduate, adult-degree, and reduced-tuition programs use other rates.

La Sierra’s 2026–27 financial aid page lists institutional grants for new freshmen and transfer students based on GPA and Student Aid Index; many listed awards range from $5,000 to $15,000, with eligibility limits and award combinations. Other possibilities include federal and California aid, National Merit awards, church matching funds, and the La Sierra/NAD tuition partnership for eligible Adventist students who meet its specific main-campus and residence-hall conditions. Its “Commitment Loan to Scholarship” program is initially a loan and converts to a scholarship only after qualifying students graduate with their first bachelor’s degree, subject to its terms. Do not treat the highest advertised award as automatic: complete FAFSA and the university’s aid process, check whether your program qualifies, and compare a written net-price offer. The 2026–27 scholarship page and cost-of-attendance tables publish current conditions.

Riverside campus and visits

The main campus is at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, CA 92505. Main phone: (951) 785-2000; admissions and program questions can be sent through the university’s enrollment pages. The main business listing shows hours Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–noon, and closed weekends. Individual offices and student services may keep different schedules, so arrange an appointment before traveling. Riverside Transit Agency Route 12 serves the campus, and the La Sierra–Riverside Metrolink station is about two miles away. A campus tour can help prospective students compare classroom buildings, residence halls, and commuting options. Start an inquiry or application through the admissions site.

What student comments point to

Student comments often describe a diverse, supportive community and approachable instructors; some also appreciate the scale of a smaller campus. Other reviewers describe campus social life as quiet outside class and say tuition feels high relative to the experience. These impressions vary by student, program, and year, and the accreditation warning is a separate institutional issue that should be assessed through official documents rather than inferred from reviews. Ask current students about the activity level in your department, residence-hall expectations, course availability, and support for your intended career. For a clearer comparison, request current retention and graduation information as well as the program’s written accreditation details.