By Elizabeth LaScala, PhD
One of 27 Jesuit universities in the United States, LMU has 7,171 undergrads and over 260 days of sunshine annually. Like other Jesuit schools, LMU has several core requirements in religion and philosophy, focused on logic, critical thinking and problem solving. While half of LMU students are Catholic, in my experience, students are “as religious as they want to be.” That said, Jesuit schools are service oriented, and strongly value community service within student clubs and nonprofit organizations.
LMU’s hilltop campus, conveniently located between Marina del Rey and Los Angeles International Airport, provides scenic views of the city and the Pacific Ocean. The Sunken Gardens green space and the palm trees make this university visually appealing to students. But like all students, it’s nice to be able to leave campus, and it helps to have access to a car to take full advantage of LA, a highly urbanized city. There is also a convenient city bus line that runs directly from LMU to Venice, Hermosa and Santa Monica Beaches and beyond.
Student housing is great! LMU houses half of its student body, including over 90 percent of the freshmen in traditional halls, living-learning communities and themed living options. Greek life attracts 15 percent of the men and a quarter of the women but does not offer housing. LMU is not an especially sports-oriented school, but it has been a national power in beach volleyball and water polo, and it does participate in the competitive West Coast Conference in sports including men’s and women’s basketball.
LMU is strong in business and the arts, especially film and animation. The marketing major has unique pathways including social transformation and sustainability, marketing analytics, advertising and brand management. Entrepreneurship is also popular and supported by the Fred Keisner Center for Entrepreneurship. LMU’s film programs are exceptionally selective; only about ten percent of all applicants get in. The film school recently ranked eighth in Hollywood Reporter‘s annual rankings. Engineering, business and communications students can intern with firms on Silicon Beach or study abroad through a unique program in Bonn, Germany. LMU also offers a Post-Bac Pre-Med program for graduates.
Over the years, LMU has become increasingly selective. Most recently, only 40 percent of applicants got in. Sixty-two percent of Early Decision applicants were accepted as were 52 percent for Early Action. If you love sunny California, and have visited and love LMU, apply early, especially if you want a larger scholarship. LMU has been test optional for a while, and less than a third of the Class of 2027 submitted scores.
LMU has strong pre-professional programs as well as an extremely supportive network within Southern California. If you are drawn to the area and might want to live and work there after graduation, consider putting LMU on your list.
Public: 7,171 undergraduates, 2,679 graduate students
40% acceptance rate;
mid-SAT: RW 640-720, M 620-730; ACT Range: 29-32;
10% International, 60% Diversity, 34% Out of State Student-Faculty: 11 to 1
Image Credit
Title: Loyola Marymount Sunken Gardens Sacred Heart Chapel
Author: Mishigaki at English Wikipedia
License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Loyola_Marymount_SunkenGardens_SacredHeartChapel.jpg
