LMU is a Roman Catholic university known for its strategic L.A. location and world-class programs in film and television, business, engineering, and communication. Big international emphasis in film and theatre arts. Compare to Chapman, Santa Clara, and University of San Diego. To take full advantage of L.A., access to a car is highly beneficial.

At Loyola Marymount University, students are treated to ideal weather year-round, a vast array of internship opportunities, and an academic lineup that includes solid programs in film and television, liberal arts and sciences, and business. What’s more, LMU has the distinction of being the only Roman Catholic university in Los Angeles. “LMU is more than an academic institution,” says a junior. “It is a community dedicated to helping students grow and thrive.”

Established in 1911, LMU occupies a 142-acre Westchester campus perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Marina del Rey in a peaceful residential neighborhood of Los Angeles. Campus architecture is mainly modern, with an abundance of California-style orange roofs. The university is sponsored by three religious orders: the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. Campus highlights include the 24-hour Hannon Library and the $110 million, LEED Gold–certified Life Sciences Building. A downtown campus houses the law school, and a Playa Vista campus is home to graduate programs in film and television and business.

LMU offers 60 baccalaureate majors and 55 minors in six colleges and schools. The general education requirements (known as the Core Curriculum) are designed to encourage intellectual breadth, tackling themes such as faith and reason; ethics and justice; culture; art and society; and science, nature, and society. Freshmen may take part in a number of programs designed to support first-year students, including an honors program and a first-year seminar.

The most popular programs include communication studies, psychology, marketing, and finance; these are also some of the university’s best. Other strong programs include film and television production, accounting, entrepreneurship, engineering, and theatre arts. Students in the School of Film and Television have access to a number of resources, including a student-run production office, a television stage, and a film soundstage with a professional “green screen” (for those cool CGI effects!). They also benefit from the program’s strong international emphasis, including the chance to study in Bonn, Germany, and produce their own documentaries that are exhibited at festivals in Germany and the U.S. Those in the College of Science and Engineering take part in national competitions to design steel bridges and race eco-friendly cars. New academic offerings include majors in environmental studies and journalism and minors in peace and justice studies and bioethics. Thanks to its hip Los Angeles locale, LMU offers a plethora of internships to experience-hungry students, including stints at Disney, MTV, and Warner Bros. LMU offers more than 60 exchange, semester, and short-term study abroad options on six continents in a wide range of disciplines; 38 percent of students participate during their time at LMU.

Like nearby Tinseltown, LMU manages to be both competitive and relaxed. “LMU students generally care about their academic performance and seek challenges where they can,” observes an economics major. Fifty-five percent of classes have fewer than 20 students, and while academic rigor and quality of instruction vary by program, students say teacher-student interaction is commonplace. “Professors truly know their students and take a personal interest in their learning,” says a junior.

LMU undergraduates hail from 48 states and 89 foreign countries; 60 percent come from California and 11 percent from abroad. “Students at LMU generally enjoy Los Angeles, care about social justice, and enjoy the sunshine and involved community at school,” says a senior. Thirty-seven percent of students are Catholic. African Americans comprise 7 percent of the student body, Hispanics 23 percent, Asian Americans 10 percent, and multiracial students 7 percent. A dance major says LMU attracts “an interesting mix of liberal and conservative students,” and students report that the political atmosphere is occasionally divisive. Merit scholarships averaging $10,600 are available for qualified students, and the athletically inclined vie for 254 athletic scholarships in 17 sports.

Forty-seven percent of LMU students live on campus. Many first-years choose to participate in themed living/learning communities, including those dedicated to specific academic disciplines, first-generation students, and Ignatian leadership. The university offers a variety of dining options, but students complain that meals are “hit or miss” and “too expensive.” Students describe campus security as good, and one student comments, “LMU does a good job of informing students about sexual consent.”

The social life at LMU takes place “both on and off campus,” says one student. Student organizations and clubs frequently host activities, and Greek life influences the scene, too, attracting 20 percent of the men and 26 percent of the women. Students say there is little pressure to drink. “If students want to drink, they can find alcohol,” says a freshman. “Those that don’t want to, don’t have to.” Everyone looks forward to Fallapalooza, an outdoor music festival that kicks off the school year, and it’s a tradition for your friends to toss you into Foley Fountain on your birthday. The university’s Jesuit heritage promotes a commitment to community service, and 70 percent of students take part, volunteering more than 200,000 hours of service every year in after-school programs, homeless shelters, health clinics, and other settings. The area of Westchester is “definitely not a college town,” groans a sophomore. Fortunately, Marina del Rey and Santa Monica are a short car or bus ride away, and it’s only a mile to the beach. “Since L.A. is a big city, there are plenty of places for a college student to eat, shop, and find entertainment.” Popular road trips include San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Las Vegas.

Back on campus, LMU’s varsity teams compete in the Division I West Coast Conference. The women’s volleyball and beach volleyball teams are nationally competitive, and the baseball team recently won the conference title. The Lions’ rivalry with nearby Pepperdine always draws a huge crowd, and the basketball team’s annual pep rally-LMU Madness-“is a pretty big event,” says a student. Intramurals and club sports are popular and include flag football, billiards, lacrosse, and rugby, among others. LMU’s debate team is a standout, too, regularly placing at the top in national and international tournaments.

With its dynamic mix of solid academics, Jesuit and Marymount traditions, and thriving social life, LMU offers students substance and style. “We’re very friendly, with a gorgeous campus,” says a student. Whether you’re a budding scientist or a future filmmaker, Loyola Marymount University may be worth a look.

-Fiske Guide