
Life Pacific University began in 1923 as a Bible-training institution founded by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. Its history is closely tied to the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, a Christian denomination McPherson founded.
The institution was known as Life Bible College and later Life Pacific College before adopting the Life Pacific University name. Those changes reflect an expansion beyond its original ministerial-training purpose: today, its academic offerings include fields outside theology while retaining a Christian educational identity. Applicants comparing older records with current information should recognize that the college and university names refer to the same institution at different points in its history.
Life Pacific University is a small institution whose academic offerings center on Christian ministry alongside selected professional and liberal-arts fields. Its reported fields of study include biblical studies, pastoral ministry, worship, behavioral sciences, communication, and business administration.
Students can pursue undergraduate study, and the university also reports graduate-level tuition. A prospective student should check the current academic catalog for the exact credential, delivery format, campus, and course sequence attached to a program: a field listed in institutional outcomes data is not necessarily accepting new students under the same name. For ministry-oriented degrees in particular, it is worth comparing required theology courses, supervised experience, and denominational expectations with the requirements of the work a student hopes to do.
Life Pacific University's main campus is in San Dimas, California, in eastern Los Angeles County. The suburban setting places students within the wider Southern California region without being in central Los Angeles.
Commuters should account for local traffic and the time needed to reach campus from elsewhere in the region. Students arriving from farther away can use Ontario International Airport as a regional air-travel option. Because academic activities may also be offered through other locations or online, applicants should confirm where their particular courses and required in-person activities take place.
Life Pacific University describes its purpose in Christian terms: educating students for leadership, service, and ministry. Its affiliation with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel is therefore relevant to both its academic focus and campus experience.
That religious identity matters even for applicants pursuing business, communication, or behavioral-science studies rather than a ministry degree. Before enrolling, students can review the current catalog and student handbook to understand how faith commitments appear in coursework, community expectations, and opportunities for worship or service. A stated mission describes the university's priorities; it should not be treated as a measured outcome for every graduate.
Name of the institution
Life Pacific UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000Religious affiliation
Protestant (International Church of the Foursquare Gospel)School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1923Life Pacific University is institutionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.