Biola UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Biola University. Core organization is free for students.

Private Non-Profit Liberal Arts College in La Mirada, CA. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all Biola University students. No credit card required.

6K+

Total Enrollment

Liberal Arts College

Institution Type

14

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall 2026

The semester, explained for Biola University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall 2026
Campus terms
24
Local details
17

Academic calendar

Fall 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

18 entries
  1. Fall 2026 Session A
  2. Fall 2026Relevant now
  3. Fall 2026 Session B
  4. Spring 2027 Session A
  5. Spring 2027
  6. Spring 2027 Session B
  7. Summer 2027 Session A
  8. Summer 2027
  9. Summer 2027 Session B
  10. Fall 2027 Session A
  11. Fall 2027
  12. Fall 2027 Session B
  13. Spring 2028 Session A
  14. Spring 2028
  15. Spring 2028 Session B
  16. Summer 2028 Session A
  17. Summer 2028
  18. Summer 2028 Session B

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

24 terms

A

Alpha
Alpha Hall, a traditional-style undergraduate residence hall.

B

Blackstone
Blackstone Hall, a newer residence hall featuring suite-style living.
BOP
Biola Orientation Program, the team that organizes welcome events for new students.

C

Common Grounds
The main campus coffee shop serving Starbucks products.

E

Eagles
Eagle's Nest, a retail food court offering burgers, sandwiches, and grab-and-go items.

G

G-Man
A nickname for the 'Spirit of Christ' statue located near the library, often used as a meeting point.

H

Hart
Hart Hall, a residence hall that typically houses upperclassmen and features a courtyard.
Heritage
Heritage Cafe, a coffee and snack spot located within the library.
Hope
Hope Hall, the largest undergraduate residence hall on campus.
Horton
Horton Hall, a residence hall known for its central campus location.

K

KBUA
The official student-run campus radio station.

R

Ring by Spring
The cultural phenomenon or goal of becoming engaged to be married by the spring semester of senior year.

S

SGA
Student Government Association, the primary representative body for undergraduate students.
Sigma
Sigma Hall, a traditional-style undergraduate residence hall.
Singspo
Singspiration, a long-standing tradition of student-led worship held on Sunday nights.
SMU
Student Missionary Union, the largest student-run missions organization in the United States.
SPA
Student Programming and Activities, the board responsible for planning major campus events like Mock Rock.
Stewart
Stewart Hall, a residence hall located on the north side of campus.

T

The Bubble
The Biola Bubble; the feeling of being isolated from the outside world due to the campus's tight-knit Christian environment.
The Caf
Cafe Biola, the primary all-you-care-to-eat dining commons.
The Grotto
A popular outdoor sunken seating area used for studying and socializing near the library.
The Jesus Mural
The 'Word of Life' mosaic on the side of the library, a landmark of the campus.
The Talon
The campus food truck providing mobile dining options.
Torrey
A student enrolled in the Torrey Honors College, or the program itself.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

17 details
Bardwell
Bardwell Hall, the primary facility for the visual arts and sciences.
Biola ID
The identification card required for building access, meal swipes, and library services.
Canvas
The Learning Management System (LMS) where professors post assignments, syllabi, and grades.
Chapel Credits
The mandatory attendance points students must earn each semester by attending chapel services to meet graduation requirements.
Crowell
Crowell Music Center, the home of the Conservatory of Music.
Flex
Flex Dollars, a declining balance currency included in meal plans for use at campus retail dining locations.
Handshake
The online platform used by the Biola Career Center for student job postings and internship listings.
Lim Center
The Alton and Lydia Lim Center for Science, Technology and Health.
Meal Exchange
A program allowing students to use a dining hall meal swipe for a designated combo meal at Eagle's Nest.
Metzger
Metzger Hall, the main administrative building housing the President's office and Admissions.
MyBiola
The internal web portal used for registration, viewing grades, and managing student accounts.
Sutherland
Sutherland Hall, a major academic building containing a large auditorium and classrooms.
Talbot
The complex of buildings housing the Talbot School of Theology.
The Jesus Mural
Sutherland Hall, named for the iconic 'Word of Life' mosaic on its exterior.
The Library
The Biola University Library, often identified by the large Jesus mural on its exterior.
The Lim
The Alton and Lydia Lim Center for Science, Technology and Health.
The SUB
The Student Union Building, which houses the Caf, SGA offices, and student lounges.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
24 approved campus terms and 17 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Get to know your university

Assisted

Find a few communities to try at Biola University

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed
Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

DormWay is still mapping student communities at this campus.

We only show recommendations once we have enough public sources for Biola University.

These are things we discovered. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Recommendations are based on public campus sources. We do not endorse student organizations.

Using DormWay at Biola University

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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Free student access

Core organization is free for Biola University students. Optional Pro tools are in development.

Biola University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

6

Active Students

11

Syllabi Analyzed

10

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual FormationFYS: The Biola ExperienceGospel, Kingdom, and CultureIntroduction to Music TechnologyMicrobiologyMUSC 160Music Theory 1Performing Arts Forum

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Canvas

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Life in La Mirada for Biola University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in La Mirada.

Timezone

Pacific Time (PT)

Median Rent

$2,500

Cost of Living Index

150

Student Population

9,000

City Transportation

Walkability

55

Bikeability

50

Public Transit

Los Angeles County Metro bus routes, Norwalk Transit and other local bus services

Nearest Airports

Los Angeles International Airport (regional), Long Beach Airport (regional), John Wayne Airport (regional)

Climate Averages

Climate

Mediterranean (warm-summer, dry-summer)

Avg Annual Temp

64°F

Avg Snowfall

0.1 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Lot R

surface_lot

Located under the soccer field/track.

Parking Structure K

garage

Includes electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Parking Structure S

garage

Primary parking for guests and students.

Campus News

Latest updates from Biola University

Biola Launches New Architecture and Interior Design Programs

Biola University announced the launch of two new undergraduate programs, Architectural Studies and Interior Design, aiming to design sacred spaces and engage with the Los Angeles design market.

Nov 3, 2026

Read More

Meet Biola University's 16 Newest Faculty Members

The university welcomed 16 new faculty members across various schools for the 2026-2027 academic year, bringing expertise in psychology, music, and theology.

Nov 3, 2026

Read More

Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts Dedicates New Studio Facility

The $75 million studio facility was officially dedicated with a red carpet event and In-N-Out celebration, housing the university's fastest-growing school.

Oct 20, 2026

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Biola University

Fives

November 5, 2026

Ethel Lee Auditorium

Weekly gathering to observe prayerful rhythms of thanksgiving, confession, and scripture meditation at dusk.

The Chosen Pre-Release Screening: Season 6 Episode 1

November 6, 2026

Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts

A special early screening of the first episode of Season 6 of The Chosen.

The Table

November 6, 2026

Talbot East Plaza 11 - Andrews Banquet Room

A community event focused on learning to listen and receive from God through His Word.

Singspiration

November 8, 2026

Chase Gymnasium

An evening of worship through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

Institute for Spiritual Formation Info Session

November 12, 2026

Online / Virtual

A session to explore the vision of the ISF program and various degree offerings.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Biola University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

14 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Alpha Hall

Capacity: 360

Room types: double, triple

Beachcomber

Room types: two-person, four-person

Blackstone Hall

Capacity: 264

Room types: double

Hart Hall

Room types: double, triple, OSA-approved single

Hope Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: double, OSA-approved single

Horton Hall

Capacity: 400

Room types: triple, OSA-approved single

Li

Room types: two-person, four-person

Lido Mirada

Room types: two-person, four-person

Sigma Hall

Capacity: 250

Room types: double, OSA-approved single

Stewart Hall

Capacity: 272

Room types: quad, suite

Thompson Hall

Room types: single, double

Tradewinds

Room types: two-person, four-person

Tropicana

Room types: two-person, four-person

Welch

Room types: two-person, four-person

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Private Non-Profit

Email Domain

@biola.edu

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