LMU: the complete school report for parents

What does LMU actually weigh in admissions?

LMU rates 3 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, the essay. It does not consider 6 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is LMU's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

50% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. The average was 3.98 on a 4 scale, reported for 100% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

LMU admitted 56.2% of 3,036 transfer applicants, against 48.2% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 3.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

LMU reports its early rounds below.

What does my child need to take in high school?

LMU sets no fixed course requirements, but recommends 16 academic units. A college-preparatory program is required.

What will LMU actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $48,381 a year at LMU after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $68,042. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 71.4% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 845 merit awards averaging $12,155 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

39% of LMU graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $33,482 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $207 a month in repayment. LMU’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from LMU pay off?

Graduates earn a median $78,349 ten years after entering, and $62,763 at six years. 82% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 78% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$116,165 to $35,852, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at LMU:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

89% of first-years return for a second year. 66% graduate within four years and 79% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 78.1% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 78.0% of everyone else, a gap of -0.1 points.

How big are the classes?

54% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1, and 58% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

What is life at LMU like?

7,187 undergraduates, 35% of first-years from out of state. 91% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 48% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 14% of men join a fraternity and 26% of women a sorority. 22% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $78,631.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. LMU recommends 16 academic units.
• 50% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above, averaging 3.98. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
• Its highest-earning major returns $116,165 five years out against $35,852 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about LMU

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