Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University (LMU)  is a top-ranked national university rooted in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. It traces its roots back to St. Vincent’s College for boys (1865-1911) and is considered its successor. LMU, in its current form, was established in 1973 after the merger of two institutions: Loyola University and Marymount College. By joining forces, the university continued to fulfil its century-old mission of providing higher education in the Los Angeles area. 

LMU’s 142-acre campus is nestled in the heart of Los Angeles’ thriving tech and film production hubs, just 1km from the beach and within one of the city’s safest communities, Westchester.  It was ranked as the fourth-most beautiful campus in the US in 2022 by The Princeton Review.  The campus currently houses six on-campus apartment complexes, twelve on-campus residence halls, and  36 administrative, academic, athletic, and event facilities. 

The university has been ranked consistently among the top universities in the US by reputed international publications. LMU was ranked 66th ‘Best National Universities’ by US News & World Report 2022. On the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2022, the institution held the 77th position. 

Many LMU alums are notable personalities in the media and entertainment industry, such as Melissa Blake, writer and producer of Criminal Minds; Barbara Brocolli, producer of Casino Royale; Patricia Whitcher, producer of Godzilla, and many more. Learn more about this historical Catholic institution in this article. 

Courses and Faculty

LMU provides undergraduate degrees and programmes in 60 majors and 55 minors. It also offers master’s degree programmes in over 40 disciplines, 13 credential programmes, one education doctorate, one Juris doctorate, and one doctorate in juridical science to graduate students. Some of the most sought-after courses at the school include those in the fields of Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Engineering, Film Production, and Animation. It has been ranked as one of the “Top 25 American Film Schools” by the Hollywood Reporter for seven consecutive years, starting in 2014. 

Furthermore, the university houses 17 interdisciplinary research centres and institutes where students and faculty join hands to tackle some of today’s most pressing social, economic, and spiritual issues. For instance, the Coastal Research Institute develops sustainable global urban coastal resource management strategies. 19 Fulbright Scholars, a Nobel Prize winner, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and two Princeton Fellows are among the dedicated faculty at LMU. 

The  Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has categorized LMU among ‘R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity’. It is a classification that is granted only to institutions that carry out research across diverse disciplines and allocated substantial resources to it. The university’s total R&D expenditure in 2022 was over $US 7 million. 

However, what does this classification mean for students? It means that they have access to some of the best facilities available at any university in the US. LMU is well known for its unmatched facilities such as:

• the Bruce Featherston Life Science Building
• the new Howard B. Fitzpatrick SFTV Pavilion 
• the nationally acclaimed William H. Hannon Library

Students and Campus Life 

A total of 10,056 students are enrolled at the university (2022), and it has an alumni network of almost 97,000 people. The university boasts a 10:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 20, which allows for plenty of individual attention from professors. Additionally, over 80 study abroad locations are available to students. Thus, they can gain international experience while still earning credits for their degree program. 

Besides the academics, the campus life at LMU is vibrant, with over 200 student organizations, including NCAA Division I athletics teams competing at ten different sports venues across Southern California; fraternities/sororities; performing arts groups; social justice organizations; faith-based groups; and much more. 

Fees and Scholarships

The average annual cost of attendance at Loyola Marymount University is $49,644. However, thanks to generous financial aid packages offered by the school, over 60% of full-time students receive some form of assistance. Each year, the university awards more than $60 million in scholarships and grants to its students. Some of these scholarships are: 

• Presidential Scholarship
• Arrupe Scholarship
• Loyola High School Scholarship
• Jesuit Community Scholarship
• LMU Transfer Scholarship
• LMU Global Scholarship
• Leavey Family Foundation Scholarship

These funds come from various sources, including the university itself, private donors, and government programmes. 

Many financial aid options are also available through federal and state governments and private organizations. The best way to find out what options are available to you is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The US Department of Education’s website lists three ways for students to complete the form: through the website, via the mobile app for myStudentAid, or by filling out the PDF of the application form.

This application will determine your eligibility for various types of financial aid, including loans, grants, and work-study programmes. LMU also offers several tuition payment plans that allow you to spread your payments over several months or years. 

Careers and Placements 

Loyola Marymount University offers numerous opportunities for students to explore their career options and find the right placement after graduation. It has an excellent Career Center, which helps students identify their skills and interests, research careers, and connect with employers. They conduct workshops, individual counselling sessions, job search resources, employer networking events, and more. 

The university also has an efficient Placement Services office that assists graduates in finding jobs or internships related to their degree programmes. Through LMU, students have access to over 525,000 companies where they can seek employment opportunities. LMU alums have been placed in top global companies such as Google, Disney Pixar Animation Studios, Apple Inc., Nike, and Amazon, among others. 

Admissions at Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University has certain fixed admission requirements for undergraduate and graduate programmes. 

Application Checklist for Undergraduate Applicants 

In order to be admitted into an undergraduate program, you must meet the following criteria –

• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent, 
• Provide official transcripts from all secondary schools you attended,
• Complete an application form and submit it with the required fee, 
• Provide scores secured on standardised tests such as the SAT or ACT 
• Submit a personal statement

Application Checklist for Graduate Applicants 

On the other hand, the prerequisites for graduate applicants are:

• Must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or its equivalent 
• Complete an application form and submit it with the sought application fee
• Provide official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended (including graduate-level coursework)
• Provide scores obtained on standardised tests such as the GRE General Test or GMAT exam (depending on the chosen programme)
• Submit a personal statement outlining your intent for pursuing graduate studies at LMU
• Arrange for letters of recommendation (LORs) to be sent directly to LMU

While meeting these minimum requirements is necessary to be considered for admission into the programmes at Loyola Marymount University, the school also assesses applicants individually.  It reviews their entire academic history to make the best decision about their admission status. In case you have any questions about whether or not you meet the admissions criteria, do not hesitate to contact the university directly!

So if you are planning to study in one of the world’s most exciting and diverse cities, with endless opportunities for cultural enrichment, career exploration, and academic excellence, consider applying to this university. We hope the information provided in this article was helpful and wish you the best of luck with the application process.