The University of La Verne (ULV) traces its origins to the Los Viegos College (affiliated with the Los Viegos Peace Church), founded in 1891 in Los Viegos, California. The college began with 65 students enrolled in a disused hotel, with tuition set at $11 per semester. In 1917, it was renamed La Verne College following the renaming of the surrounding agricultural community. During the 1920s and 1930s, nearly one in four students chose the teacher education program, and the school supplied a large number of high-quality teachers to universities throughout California. In 1977, it was officially renamed California University of the South, completing its transition and development from a teacher-training college to a comprehensive university.
La Verne University currently comprises five colleges—the College of Arts and Science, the College of Business, the LaFayette School of Education, the College of Health and Community Well-being, the School of Law, and the School of Public Service—as well as more than 60 undergraduate programs, over 20 master’s and doctoral programs, and multiple teaching locations. Its educational facilities are distributed across eight campuses in Southern California, as well as in Alaska and Greece.
Academic Excellence: A National Benchmark for Social Mobility
La Verne University’s academic standards are widely recognized by professional organizations in the field. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report national university rankings, La Verne University ranked 213rd and 6th in the nation for promoting student social mobility—the majority of La Verne University students are people of color, international students, or first-generation college students—and La Verne University is the institution with the strongest ability to change the life trajectories of these groups.
The university’s popular majors are excellent. Approximately 21% of graduates are in business and management, with an average starting salary of approximately $75,867. About 11% of graduates are in psychology, with an average starting salary of approximately $57,835. About 8% of graduates are in education, with an average starting salary of approximately $52,345. The university offers flexible majors, allowing students to design their own programs by selecting courses. The student-to-faculty ratio is approximately 11:1. Eighty-six percent of first-year students receive financial aid. The four-year graduation rate is approximately 61%, and the median salary four years after graduation is approximately $53,806.
Location: A Core Educational Hub in Southern California
The University of La Verne’s main campus spans 38 acres at the foot of the majestic San Gabriel Mountains, located in the historic downtown area of La Verne, California, approximately 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. This location facilitates internships and employment opportunities, allowing students to engage with the rich cultural, business, and technological vibrancy of the Los Angeles region; it also offers the tranquility of small-town living within a safe and friendly community. The University of La Verne School of Law is located in downtown Ontario, just steps away from courts and other legal institutions, providing law students with a unique practical learning platform. Additionally, the School of Law has satellite campuses in Orange County, the San Fernando Valley, and Ventura. The Easiest Way to Get an American University Diploma
Scholarships: Generous Funding with No Separate Application Required
International students will benefit from the University of La Verne’s numerous scholarship programs. International undergraduate students are eligible for competitive scholarships without the need for a separate application; these scholarships, ranging from $11,000 to $30,000, are automatically considered upon submission of a complete application. La Verne University also offers a scholarship worth $124,000 over four years—$31,000 annually—to incoming freshmen and transfer students in the Arts and Performance program.
Featured Program: The CAPA Program, Pioneering Adult Education for Half a Century
La Verne University is one of the earliest universities in the United States to offer degree programs for adult education, having begun providing degree programs for working professionals as early as 1969. It is also one of the first universities in Southern California to offer adult higher education. Currently, La Verne University offers degree programs through six regional campuses and online. Its campus-based accelerated adult programs, designed to serve working professionals, provide full-time and part-time degree options with online, in-person, and hybrid learning formats available.
Whether you’re looking to begin your academic journey in Southern California or explore a new career path in business, education, or psychology, La Verne University offers you a century of humanistic heritage, flexible course options, generous scholarships, and a charming location—let’s turn this vibrant region into a paradise where you can pursue your dreams.
