
Loma Linda University traces its origins to a Seventh-day Adventist health institution established in Loma Linda, California, in 1905. Its development as a university is closely tied to the denomination's emphasis on medical care, education, and service.
The College of Medical Evangelists was organized in 1909 to train health professionals. As its academic programs expanded beyond medicine, the institution adopted the name Loma Linda University in 1961. That history helps explain why today's university concentrates on health professions and operates within the larger Loma Linda University Health system.
Loma Linda University is organized around health professions rather than a broad selection of traditional undergraduate majors. Its eight schools are Allied Health Professions, Behavioral Health, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Religion.
Programs span bachelor's completion pathways, master's and doctoral study, and professional degrees. Examples include nursing, respiratory care, clinical laboratory science, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, public health, and behavioral health fields. The School of Religion contributes coursework and programs connected to the university's faith-based approach to education.
Applicants should check the requirements for their specific program and credential. A professional doctorate, an entry-level clinical program, and a bachelor's completion program can have different prerequisites, application systems, clinical requirements, and calendars.
Loma Linda University is in Loma Linda, California, in the Inland Empire east of Los Angeles. Its academic buildings sit near Loma Linda University Health's hospitals and clinics, a location that is particularly relevant to students whose programs include clinical education.
The setting is part of a small city within a larger metropolitan area. Students considering an off-campus home should account for travel between housing, classes, and any assigned clinical site; those activities may not all take place in the same building or on the same schedule. Ontario International Airport is a useful regional air-travel option.
Loma Linda University describes its purpose as educating health professionals in a setting that joins learning, research, and service with Christian values. Its stated identity is Seventh-day Adventist, and its emphasis on whole-person care reflects that affiliation.
For applicants, the religious connection is more than a historical detail: it informs the university's educational philosophy and aspects of campus programming. Students of different backgrounds should review their prospective program's expectations, including any religion coursework or conduct policies, rather than assume that every school applies identical requirements.
Name of the institution
Loma Linda UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Seventh-day Adventists)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
QuartersFoundation year
1905Loma Linda 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.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Certificate of at least 2 years, but less than 4 years
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practice
Doctor's degree - otherData last updated on November 2, 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.