Who this university is, in brief
University of Redlands is a private, nonprofit institution offering four years or more of study, located in the city of Redlands, in San Bernardino County, California, in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area. That does not mean the campus is in the middle of that large city; the census code only confirms that it is within an urban area. If your child plans to live at home and commute every day, the only way to know whether that is feasible is to drive that route yourself on a weekday, at the time they would have class. A map never tells you the actual travel time.
The federal system that classifies U.S. universities —the Carnegie Classification— places it as a master's university with large graduate programs, and describes it as a medium-sized, four-year school that is “highly residential”: that means that, according to the data used for that classification, at least half of its undergraduate students lived in institution-owned, controlled, or affiliated housing, and at least 80 out of every 100 studied full time. In its undergraduate profile, Carnegie also places it in its selective-admission group.
What does “highly residential” mean for your budget? Room and board almost never come included in the tuition price you see first in the brochure. Ask for them separately, with the meal plan itemized, before comparing this school with any other.
As for academic level, the government records the doctorate as the highest level the institution reports offering, and classifies it as a school that awards degrees primarily at the bachelor's level or above. That is an aggregate institutional fact: it does not tell you whether the specific major your child is interested in exists there, or whether there is a path connecting their bachelor's degree with graduate study. That must be asked program by program.
And one thing worth clarifying right away: University of Redlands is not listed as a historically Black college or university (HBCU), a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. These are three different designations, with different histories, and among the 3,012 universities in this federal directory, only 138 have any one of the three. The fact that Redlands is not on that list does not tell you which communities it serves well, how many Latino students it has, or how your child will feel there. Ask directly: what cultural centers exist today, what student organizations operate, and —if you can— speak with someone already studying there.
The size of the community and who else will be there
Here is one of the numbers that matters most to a family wondering whether their child will fit in: in fall 2023, 43 out of every 100 University of Redlands undergraduate students reported being Hispanic or Latino. That is close to half. And among the 941 selective-admission private four-year schools that reported this figure in the same census, it is among those reporting a higher share: nine out of ten of those schools fell below it. Put another way, being Latino would not be the exception on this campus.
But a high number of Latino students is not the same as real support for Latino students. This figure counts how many there are; it does not say whether there is a counselor who speaks Spanish, whether there is targeted tutoring, or whether those same students complete their degrees. And it is the percentage for the entire school, not for the specific major your child is interested in. It is worth asking directly.
A few other outlines of this community, as reported by the institution: students ages 25 to 64 are a minority among undergraduates, just 9 out of every 100; there are more women than men, 57 out of every 100 students; and where incoming students came from geographically simply was not reported for this school in the most recent cycle.
In total size, University of Redlands had 3,192 students enrolled in the official fall count: it is a medium-sized school, within the 1,000 to 4,999 range, and compared with its peers —selective-admission private four-year schools— it falls on the larger side of that group. But be careful with that total number: it is divided between 2,100 undergraduate students and 1,092 graduate students. A substantial part of the school consists of people who have already completed one degree and returned for another. If your child is starting a bachelor's degree, the number that matters to them is not 3,192, but 2,100.
How the academic year is structured
University of Redlands operates on a 4-1-4 calendar: four courses for four months, then one month devoted to a single course, followed by another four courses in the next four months. It is a different rhythm from the traditional two-block semester, and it is worth understanding before putting together the family calendar for the first year.
The institution also reported accepting prior credit through two routes: AP exams, and what the government calls “credit for life experience” —learning acquired through independent study, noncredit adult courses, work experience, portfolios, prior licenses or certifications, among other military, government, or professional routes— as well as credit for military training. Reporting these options does not mean they will be recognized automatically. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing, with the exact number of credits, before assuming savings in your budget. The institution also reported that, for now, it does not enroll high school students in college-credit courses.
What is studied there and with whom
In the most recently reported year, University of Redlands awarded 780 bachelor's degrees, distributed across 19 program families under the federal classification. The family with the most degrees was business and administration, with 258 of those 780: that is, 33 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year came from that field. Among selective-admission private four-year schools that reported this figure, Redlands falls in the quarter awarding the most bachelor's degrees each year.
Nineteen families with a row in the report are not nineteen different majors or nineteen active programs: one family groups several programs, and a row can appear with zero degrees that year. If your child already has an idea of what they want to study, ask for the exact program name, not the general family.
As for how much staff is available per student: the official ratio is 11 full-time students for each full-time-equivalent instructional staff member. Compared with similar schools, this ratio falls below the middle of the group —that is, it is relatively low— although it does not reach the lowest quarter. This number alone does not prove that more staff are available for each student or tell you the actual size of a classroom. The federal file does not explain exactly how it was calculated and does not report first-year class sizes.
Academic pathways the institution reports offering
University of Redlands reports offering study abroad, a complete program that can be taken only in the evenings or on weekends, and several pathways related to teacher certification: preparation for teacher certification below the postsecondary level, the possibility of completing preparation in certain teacher-specialization areas there or at another institution, and state approval of the initial teacher-certification program. The institution's reporting of these pathways confirms they exist as stated options; it does not say how many students use them or how accessible they are for a particular student.
What admission is like: step by step
Here we reach one of the most important pieces of this article. University of Redlands does not have open admission. There are specific pieces it reviews before saying yes. Of the nine considerations this federal count records —not including standardized tests or legacy status— it marked four as required: the high school transcript, high school grade-point average, personal essay, and English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. Put plainly: at this university, it is not enough to gather paperwork. The essay is required, so your child has to sit down and write.
There are also items that are not required but that the institution does consider if you submit them: your child's class rank, completion of the course plan the university recommends, letters of recommendation, work experience, and whether a family member attended there. This last item —“legacy” status— is the only one your child cannot change. If it does not apply in their case, do not spend energy thinking about it; spend it on what is within their control.
The published undergraduate application fee is $50.
And now the numbers on how accessible admission is. In cycle 2023, University of Redlands received 3,622 first-time applications and offered admission to 2,931 of them. The calculation comes to 81 out of every 100 applicants admitted. Among the selective-admission private four-year schools in this census, that percentage falls in the middle of the table, a little above the middle of the group: neither among the most difficult nor among the most open.
For a family, that means seven or eight out of every ten applicants receive a yes. That does not make the process automatic —691 applicants in that same cycle did not receive an offer— but it is reason for your child to submit the application on time, without leaving it until the last minute. And remember: that 81 out of every 100 is from a single cycle, not a fixed rule at the school. When it is your child's turn, check the number again for the year they apply.
Now comes a figure that often confuses families: out of every 100 first-time students admitted in 2023, only 17 actually enrolled at Redlands. The other 83 had a place there and did not take it. Among similar schools, this percentage also falls in the middle of the table. Do not read it as a stain on the school: the fact that most admitted students choose another place says nothing about Redlands's quality, and the federal record does not explain why each person made the decision they did. What does matter is this: other admitted students' decisions do not tell you what they will offer you. Wait for your own letter with the net price —what the year would actually cost— before deciding whether this school remains on your child's list.
Regarding standardized tests: University of Redlands reported that the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child sends them, they are considered; if they do not, the application proceeds normally. Among first-time students who did enroll, only 18 out of every 100 submitted an SAT score. Among those who submitted one, the middle half scored between 548 and 670 in reading and writing, and between 530 and 653 in mathematics. Note: those ranges are for students who enrolled and submitted the test, not for all applicants, and they do not prove that the score influenced any admission decision. 548 is not a minimum, and 670 is not a guarantee of anything either.
Regarding transfers: among first-time, full-time students who entered in 2017 seeking a bachelor's degree, only 15 —2 out of every 100— appear to have transferred to another institution without completing there, within the expected time. Compared with similar schools, it is among those that see the fewest students leave through this route. On the other hand, in the fall count of 2023, 335 undergraduate students arrived at Redlands for the first time after having studied previously at another institution. Few students leaving does not mean everyone completes a degree there; that is a completely different calculation we review later. And if your child were to transfer, this figure also does not say how many credits are recognized: request that in writing, with the exact list of courses, before moving anyone from one school to another.
The sticker price, without embellishment
At University of Redlands, among 86 first-time, full-time students seeking a credential and receiving federal Title IV aid whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $21,520. Among 54 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $20,649; among 59 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $32,855. For dependent students, the band adds their parents' income and their own.
The difference between the average for the lower-income band (86 students) and that for the highest-income band (59 students) is $11,335. Among first-year students who received any grant, the average was $28,054.
Even after grants are deducted, the average net price for lower-income families was $21,520 in academic year 2022-23. If that number does not fit your budget, it is better to see it today than in August.
An average does not say how different cases were within that band; this figure cannot establish that there were families far below or above the published amount. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time students seeking a credential and receiving federal Title IV aid; at public institutions they use the in-state or district rate. The overall average with grants, when it appears, describes first-time, full-time students seeking a credential who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships.
Grants, loans, and ways to pay
The good news, within this context of a high price, is that almost no one pays alone. At University of Redlands, 93 out of every 100 students seeking a degree received some grant or aid that does not have to be repaid. Among those who received it, the annual average was $39,067. That is real money, but it is not a price: that average includes students who received much more and others who received much less. What truly decides the matter is the amount left for your family after aid, and that number is not in this overall average —you have to request it, school by school, with your specific letter in hand.
In addition, 35 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received Pell, the federal aid aimed at lower-income families.
Regarding loans: in school year 2022-23, 57 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan. Among those who borrowed, the average for the year was $7,898. If your child borrowed something similar every year over the four years the program lasts, the total would be close to $31,592, not counting interest. Here, financing with debt is common, not the exception. That calculation is made before the first signature, not at the end of the fourth year when there is no turning back. And this average covers only federal loans in the student's name: it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes end up signing, bank debt, or credit cards.
As for payment methods, the institution reports offering an installment tuition plan, useful for spreading payment throughout the year instead of making one lump-sum payment.
Campus life: housing, sports, library, and support
University of Redlands does have institution-owned housing. It does not require all full-time, first-time students to live there —but that also does not mean no program requires it; ask about your child's specific case. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week in the largest plan. The reported capacity of institution-controlled housing is 1,477 students. The existence of housing does not guarantee an available bed: ask in writing for the year's rate, the deadline to apply, and whether you have a guaranteed space or are placed on a waiting list.
For anyone considering ROTC, the institution marked two branches as available: Army and Air Force; Navy is not marked. Its being reported does not mean the program is offered on this specific campus or that there is guaranteed space — ask directly before building a plan around it.
In athletics, University of Redlands competes at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported membership in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. This does not say which division each sport plays in or whether it offers athletic scholarships: ask the coach of the team your child is interested in directly.
Regarding distance education: the institution does offer it, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and even reported having at least one complete program that can be taken entirely at a distance. But in the actual fall count, only 1 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all their classes at a distance; the other 99 took at least one in-person class.
The library operates with paid staff, annual spending above the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government, a physical and digital collection, and interlibrary lending. That threshold is only a floor; it does not guarantee that the specific databases for your child's major exist — ask by major name.
Finally, the institution reports offering combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services upon program completion, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and their families, a student veterans organization, and a published web address for disability services.
Do they stay? Do they graduate? The outcomes we can see
Now for the part that matters most to any parent: if my child enrolls there, will they finish?
Let us begin with year-to-year retention. Of the cohort of 507 first-time, full-time students who entered in fall 2022, 413 —81 out of every 100— were still enrolled one year later, or had already completed a bachelor's degree. Compared with similar schools, this places it a little above the middle of the group. This number does not separate those still studying from those who already graduated, and it also does not explain what happened to the rest: not returning to this school does not always mean leaving higher education; it may mean they transferred to another university and continue there.
Now the graduation rate, where this number begins to speak more strongly. Of the class that entered in 2017 —730 full-time, first-time students— six years later, 516 had a degree in hand: 71 out of every 100. With the shorter four-year time frame, the figure drops to 61 out of every 100, ten points lower. Compared with similar schools, University of Redlands falls in the top quarter: three out of every four similar schools reported an equal or lower share of graduates.
It is worth looking at the rest of that same cohort of 730 students, because 71% does not tell the whole story: 15 transferred without completing there and continued at another institution; 4 were still enrolled without having finished within the time frame; and 195 were in the federal category of “no longer enrolled” at the cutoff, a category that does not explain the reason and may include people who graduated after the counted time limit.
A high percentage is not a promise for your particular child. It is what happened to the cohort that entered in 2017. What is within your control —and this is what the evidence says— is that they begin with their credits in order, and that from the first semester they know who their academic adviser is and when the courses they need are scheduled.
Finally, a broader view: the cohort that entered between July 2015 and June 2016 —1,043 undergraduate students, combining first-time students and those who already had prior college experience, full time and part time— reached eight years with 65 out of every 100 earning a degree or certificate from this school. Among those who received a Pell Grant, the figure was 64 out of every 100, almost identical. Within that same cohort, 29 out of every 100 —301 people exactly— had an “unknown” enrollment status at the cutoff: that does not mean they stopped studying, only that the report could not determine where they were. Before deciding based on this number alone, it is worth asking directly about concrete support and more recent outcomes than this report can capture.
What this article cannot tell you
This report stops at the university's exit door. It does not include —because the official source that feeds it does not cover it— any data on what happens afterward: earnings, employment, or the debt a student actually leaves with upon graduation. If that matters to you, it must be sought elsewhere, using another source.
How this fits into your family's decision
You now know, in considerable detail, one of the three pieces you need to decide: what University of Redlands actually is and offers, according to its own reports to the federal government. You know it is a private, medium-sized, highly residential school, with a community where being Latino would not be unusual. You know its admission process requires an essay and reviews several factors, that it accepts eight out of every ten applicants but that only one out of every six admitted students ultimately enrolls. You know the sticker price is around $80,474 per year, that almost everyone receives some aid, and that even with grants lower-income families end up paying, on average, more than $21,000 per year. And you know that seven out of every ten students in the 2017 cohort graduated within six years.
All of this is the ground beneath you. You still need to bring it together with what your child wants to study, what they have already built in high school, and what your family can and is willing to pay. From that combination —not from this article alone— comes the plan.
Source note: the information in this article comes from data reported by University of Redlands to the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS system, in the cycles and periods indicated in each section. Best College Aid does not represent University of Redlands or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data and does not constitute personalized admissions advice.