What University of La Verne is like

What it's like

University of La Verne is a private institution in Southern California with a sprawling footprint across multiple regional campuses. Founded in 1891 by the Church of the Brethren, it retains some connections to that heritage while operating as a non-sectarian university. The main campus in La Verne is supplemented by six regional locations throughout Los Angeles and Kern County, plus military satellite campuses, creating a distributed learning model that serves working adults and military personnel alongside traditional undergraduates. With a test-optional admissions policy and an acceptance rate of 73.5%, the university caters to a broad student population.

Academic feel

La Verne offers degrees across five colleges—Arts & Sciences, Business & Public Management, Education, Law, and Health and Community Well-Being—alongside online options and adult education programs. Research productivity spans business, mathematics, economics, social psychology, engineering, and philosophy. The College of Law, founded in 1970 and now California Bar-accredited, has struggled historically with bar passage rates (31% on the first attempt in 2016 vs. a statewide average of 62%) but achieved full ABA accreditation in 2016 before pivoting to California Bar accreditation in 2019. The university awards undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees, with the first master's degree conferred in 1965 and the first doctorate in 1969.

Social life

The campus supports five sororities and two fraternities, along with student government through the Associated Students of the University of La Verne (ASULV). Traditions include the multi-decade practice of painting "the Rock," a large on-campus boulder that is repainted by clubs and organizations throughout the year. Homecoming features a street fair and student-made floats. Student housing includes Citrus Hall, which opened in 2018 and accommodates about 400 students, along with two other dormitory buildings.

What you should consider

The university is particularly oriented toward working adults and military-connected students, evidenced by its extensive network of regional campuses, military satellite locations at Point Mugu and Vandenberg, and dedicated online degree programs. Non-traditional students and those seeking flexible, distributed learning options find structured pathways here. The test-optional admissions policy and average 3.24 high school GPA of admitted students suggest accessibility for those without strong standardized test scores.

Strengths

• The university operates six regional campuses across Los Angeles and Kern County, plus military satellite facilities, providing educational access to working adults and military personnel across a wide geographic area.[1][2]
• Test-optional admissions policy for first-time freshmen removes standardized testing barriers to entry.[2]
• Ranked tied for No. 7 nationally in Top Performers on Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Colleges rankings.[2]
• The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.[2]
• The Master of Public Administration program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).[2]

Weaknesses

• College of Law graduates historically underperform on bar exams; only 31% of La Verne graduates who took the California bar exam for the first time in July 2016 passed, compared to a statewide average of 62%.[2]
• The university's 2004 closure of its Athens campus, which had gained a reputation as one of Greece's best private English-language institutions, occurred with only 48 hours' notice to students and faculty on financial grounds.[2]

Traditions

• The Rock, a large painted boulder on campus, has been a tradition for more than 60 years and is regularly repainted by student clubs and organizations, with the practice of overnight pranking continuing for decades.[2]
• Annual homecoming celebration featuring a street fair on 3rd Street outside Founders Hall and a parade with student-made floats.[2]
• The baccalaureate ceremony is held at the local Church of the Brethren, reflecting the university's founding heritage by members of that denomination.[2]