Overview and Fact Sheet
Azusa Pacific University
Founded 1899
Azusa Pacific is a comprehensive, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles in Southern California and built on Four Cornerstones: Christ, Scholarship, Community, and Service. APU offers 59 bachelor’s degrees, 34 master’s degrees, 35 certificates and credentials, and 7 doctoral programs. APU has more than 7,000 students at its main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. A member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, and recognized among the nation’s top schools, APU remains committed to God First and Christ-centered academic excellence.
In 2022, Azusa Pacific welcomed Adam J. Morris, PhD, as the 18th president of the university. Read more about the university’s history.
There are also several offsite regional locations serving the High Desert, Inland Empire, Monrovia, Murrieta, Orange County, and San Diego, as well as many online programs.
Recognition
APU achieved a historic placement in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. as the top-ranked Christian university in California and the highest-ranked institution in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities for the second consecutive year. APU was No. 62 overall, which is the highest national ranking in institutional history. APU also ranked highly on the WSJ/College Pulse lists for Best Salaries, Best Value, Student Experience, and Social Mobility. APU has also received the following honors:
- U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2026 edition named Azusa Pacific to its list of top national universities and several other significant lists, including Top Performers on Social Mobility, Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, and Best BSN Programs, and also included APU in its list of top graduate programs in nursing, physical therapy, social work, and clinical psychology.
- The Princeton Review designated APU as 1 of 79 institutions in the “Best West” section of its 2026 The Best 391 Colleges guide.
- APU’s School of Nursing was named a top nursing school in California for 2026 by College Factual and Niche.
- APU’s graduate nursing and education programs were recognized by Money for outstanding affordability, value, and return on investment.
- Azusa Pacific is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and a designated Asian American Native American and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI).
- Azusa Pacific also ranks in the top 10 percent of Military Friendly Schools, earning a Gold Award, and is a Yellow Ribbon University, serving more than 340 military-connected students and families.
- Azusa Pacific is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 Doctoral Research University, one of only two in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.
Enrollment
The school’s first graduating class had 12 people. Today, APU has an enrollment of more than 6,200 students.
Total students enrolled: 6,272
- Traditional Undergraduate: 1,995
- Professional Undergraduate: 572
- Graduate: 2,429
Total teaching faculty: 934
- Full-time faculty: 343
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
Climate
Moderate climate; mostly warm and dry throughout the year.
Academics
| University Degrees and Programs | Total |
|---|---|
| Degrees awarded (2023-24) | 2,540 |
| Doctoral degrees | 148 |
| Master's degrees | 1,194 |
| Bachelor's degrees | 1,198 |
| Freshman Admissions Profile (Class of 2028) | Total |
|---|---|
| Number Applied | 3,805 |
| Number Entering (first time, full time) | 413 |
| Freshmen retention (fall 2021-22) | 82% |
Undergraduate Financial Aid (2023-24)
| Scholarships/Grants | Total |
|---|---|
| Federal (including military) | $9,360,117 |
| State | $6,349,257 |
| Other external scholarships/grants administered by college | $1,195,881 |
| Institutional | $53,169,893 |
| Institutional (excluding waivers and athletic awards) | $47,058,633 |
| Self Help | Total |
|---|---|
| Student loans | $16,723,245 |
| Parent loans | $7,803,893 |
| Tuition waivers | $2,158,366 |
| Athletic awards | $3,952,894 |
| Percentage of undergraduate students receiving any form of: | Total |
|---|---|
| Grant of scholarship financial aid | 72% |
| Institutional financial aid | 99% |
| Need-based financial aid | 69% |
| Finances | Total |
|---|---|
| Expenses (2023-24) | $193,357,307 |
| Endowment (2023-24) | $90,358,715 |
| Total Donations (2023-24) | $9,908,954 |
| Full-time undergraduate tuition (2024-25)1 | $42,900 |
Faculty and Staff
| Faculty | Total |
|---|---|
| Full time | 343 |
| Adjunct | 591 |
| Student-to-faculty-ratio | 10:1 |
| Total Teaching Faculty | 934 |
| Staff | Total |
|---|---|
| Full time | 552 |
| Part time | 51 |
| Total Staff | 603 |
Additional Information
University Fact Sheet
To request a printed copy, email stratcomm@apu.edu.
Footnotes
- Visit Student Services Center for tuition costs.