Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California · Private Nonprofit · 45.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) scores 72 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. Sticker tuition is $62,357 and the net price is $48,381 -- the highest average net price of any school in this batch and a meaningful ROI risk flag. Total 4-year net cost exceeds $193,000. Median 6-year earnings are $53,000 and the payback period is 7.7 years, which is workable for graduates entering business and engineering but extremely difficult for graduates entering film, theatre, dance, or fine arts. The program mix at LMU is genuinely bifurcated: Accounting (40 graduates, $70,960 year-one, ROI grade A), Finance (111 graduates, $70,542 year-one, ROI grade B+), and Computer Science (37 graduates, $79,763 year-one, ROI grade B+) sit alongside Film/Video (117 graduates, $24,561 year-one, ROI grade F), Drama/Theatre (121 graduates, $21,869 year-one, ROI grade F), and Dance (11 graduates, $19,107 year-one, ROI grade F). Biology earns an F grade (62 graduates, $22,638 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.088) -- near-term biology earnings are suppressed by graduate school enrollment. Completion rate of 78.9% is solid. The 45.1% admission rate and LA location attract a specific applicant pool, but the $48,381 net price demands that students choose their major with clear eyes about post-graduation earnings.
Loyola Marymount University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $62,357/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $62,357/yr |
| Average net price | $48,381/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $193,524 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $78,349 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $53,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 78.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,094 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Loyola Marymount University is $62,357/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $48,381/year, or roughly $193,524 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $32,268/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $58,371/year.
The median graduate leaves with $19,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $207 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $78,349 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.37 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $32,268 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $34,535 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $34,351 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $40,557 |
| $110,001+ | $58,371 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $32,268 per year at LMU -- over $129,000 over four years. This is high even for a selective private. LMU does not have the endowment of a Pomona or a USC to compress net prices at the lowest income tier. Low-income students admitted to LMU should compare this figure against the net prices at more heavily endowed California privates and CSU schools, where comparable or better outcomes are achievable at a fraction of the cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $34,351 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $40,557 -- both are high. Middle-income families face the greatest relative burden at LMU: they do not qualify for the most generous aid but are paying nearly full price at $40,000+ per year. This is a stress point for families in this bracket who are funding a film or arts degree rather than business or engineering.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $58,371 -- approaching full sticker. High-income families paying $58,000+ annually at LMU are making a bet on the LA network effect and institutional brand. For business and engineering graduates, the 7.7-year payback is defensible. For arts graduates, high-income families are essentially subsidizing a career path with long and uncertain payback periods.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Loyola Marymount University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $60,958 | C |
| Marketing | $82,825 | C+ |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $49,135 | F |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $61,500 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $109,303 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $69,144 | C+ |
| International Relations | $72,375 | D |
| Entrepreneurship | $69,534 | B+ |
| Biology | $80,317 | F |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $58,468 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting is LMU's best ROI program: 40 graduates, $70,960 year-one, $111,733 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.240 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $17,000 is low relative to earnings velocity. The 4-year trajectory to $111k reflects CPA licensing and career progression into senior accounting and finance roles in the Los Angeles market. This is the program where LMU's location and business network pay off most clearly.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance enrolls 111 graduates -- the largest business cohort -- with $70,542 year-one and $109,303 year-four earnings (ROI grade B+, debt-to-earnings 0.276). Median debt of $19,500 is low. LMU's proximity to LA's financial services sector and its alumni network in banking and investment management support this trajectory. Finance is the volume program that sustains the institution's aggregate ROI score.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video and Photographic Arts earns an F-grade ROI: 117 graduates, $24,561 year-one, $61,500 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.947 against $23,250 median debt. Year-one earnings of $24,561 against a $48,381 net price per year is a severe mismatch. The 4-year figure of $61,500 shows a positive long-run trajectory, but the near-term financial stress for film graduates at LMU's price point is real. Students entering this program should have a concrete financial plan for the first 3-5 years.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama/Theatre Arts earns an F grade: 121 graduates, $21,869 year-one, $49,135 year-four, debt-to-earnings 1.063. Debt exceeds year-one earnings by 106%. At a $48,381 net price institution, drama graduates face the most acute near-term financial stress of any major in this review. Students committed to theatre who need merit aid should actively compare LMU against programs with lower net prices.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (37 graduates) earns $79,763 year-one and $127,011 year-four with a B+ ROI grade and debt-to-earnings of 0.326. Median debt of $26,000 is moderate against strong starting salaries. LMU's CS graduates enter the LA and Bay Area tech markets with a Jesuit liberal arts background. The 4-year trajectory to $127k is competitive with peer institutions in this selectivity tier.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 45.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 620-710 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 640-720 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-32 |
| Enrollment | 7,094 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 13.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,834 |
At 45.1%, LMU is moderately selective. The SAT 620-710 Math and 640-720 Reading mid-ranges describe the middle half of the admitted class. ACT 28-32 composite is the parallel. Students should not approach LMU as a 'safety' for more selective schools -- the caliber of admitted students and the academic environment reflect the selectivity. The financial aid model produces a $48,381 average net price that is high even for this tuition tier.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
LMU's peer schools include Art Center College of Design, Azusa Pacific University, Texas Christian University, Indiana Wesleyan, and Bellevue University. The most meaningful comparables for LMU are TCU (similar tuition tier, strong business programs) and other selective LA-adjacent privates. LMU's 72 ROI score reflects its bifurcated program mix: the business and engineering programs are competitive, but the arts and entertainment programs that define LMU's brand identity in LA produce some of the worst per-dollar ROI in this cohort at this price point.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola Marymount University (this school) | 72 | $48,381 | $78,349 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Texas Christian University | 71 | $36,660 | $68,424 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | 61 | $16,898 | $59,986 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Who Thrives Here
LMU admits 45.1% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 620-710 Math and 640-720 Reading; ACT composite 28-32. Enrollment is 7,094 undergraduates in Los Angeles. Pell grant rate of 13.2% is low, indicating limited low-income enrollment. The institution attracts students drawn to media, entertainment, and business in a Los Angeles context. That positioning works financially only for students in the higher-earning programs -- the arts and film tracks produce F-grade ROI at this price point.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Loyola Marymount University offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $48,381 per year leads to $193,524 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $78,349 a decade out. The payback period of 7.7 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
The data highlights several strengths: a 78.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $19,500 is very manageable against $78,349 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.