Woodbury University
Burbank, California
Established in 1884, Woodbury University is a small, private, fully-accredited, non-profit institution known for its School of Architecture; School of Business; School of Media, Culture, & Design; and College of Liberal Arts. Woodbury offers 25 practice-based professional and liberal arts undergraduate and graduate majors, many of which are nationally and regionally ranked.
Woodbury University’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs transform students into innovative professionals who also learn the value of social responsibility as both local and global citizens. Academic excellence is achieved by its purposeful student engagement, external partnerships, and enriched, active student experiences. Students who choose Woodbury reflect the cultural diversity of Southern California and, through the university’s transformative educational programs, are empowered to put their talents to work and do extraordinary things.
Get to know Woodbury University
College Highlights
PROBLEM- AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
At Woodbury University, the student experience is at the center of learning. Problem- and project-based learning strategies are integrated throughout Woodbury University’s curriculum, often in community settings where individual and collaborative contributions make a significant difference. Here are just a few examples:
- First-year architecture students are given their own studio space, and their first assignment is to build their own desk.
- Graphic design students create logos and branded materials for nonprofits, such as the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.
- Communications students have worked in collaboration with Hanze University in the Netherlands to design games that help Somali children deal with their experiences from war.
- Business students work with corporate partners to help with marketing strategy and management.
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
The School of Architecture’s various centers and institutes truly underscore the holistic nature of its field, taking students out of the studio and into the real world through a dedicated program of fieldwork.
The Arid Lands Institute enables students to strategize and demonstrate to cities how to rethink certain policies, introducing ways that architects can utilize dry-land designs to assess the climate change. And through its Urban Policy Center, the University continues to support the infiltration of architects into civic positions where they can affect legislative decisions. But it doesn’t stop there—with a goal to have a direct and beneficial effect on the built environment, Woodbury also teaches architects to be developers through the Real Estate Development for Architects program.
ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
Non-U.S. Citizen: 7%
Hispanic/Latinx: 40%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 5%
White, non-Hispanic: 34%
Native/Indigenous American or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0%
Asian, non-Hispanic: 10%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 0%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 3%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 0%
A TALENTED, DEDICATED FACULTY
Woodbury students learn from a combination of full- and part-time faculty. This mix of highly credentialed, academically trained professors and “real life” professionals with advanced degrees offers students the best of both worlds. The student-to-professor ratio is 9 to 1, and the average class size is 15.
INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION
Woodbury takes pride in providing students with individual attention. Faculty members, many of whom are practicing professionals themselves, understand that students will need to satisfy the high standards that come with their professions, both now and in the future. They also understand that what distinguishes Woodbury graduates from others is that they have been taught to use their own experiences and voices. Students see themselves as makers of knowledge, and faculty members empower, support, and nurture them in that process.
SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Accelerated program
Double major
Independent study
Internships
Liberal arts/career combination
Student-designed major
Study abroad
Student life is what truly makes Woodbury a vibrant campus. Whether it is the casual culture of the 24/7 studios or the formal culture of the annual Grand Critique, where 400 architecture students and professors gather to celebrate and discuss projects, the integration of academic and personal development is present everywhere on campus.
ONE CAMPUS—ONE COMMUNITY
Woodbury is a diverse community of students from more than 40 countries and dozens of regional and national ethnicities. From the outset, the school comes together as a community through the “One Book, One Campus” program, which engages students and faculty in campus-wide discussions around a single book. What’s more, the campus community expands further through a project hosted by student group La Voz Unida, who invites parents to shadow their students on campus for a day.
SCHOOL LOCATION
Woodbury University is situated in Burbank, CA, on a green and tranquil 22-acre campus nestled between the Verdugo Mountains and the Hollywood Hills. The campus is at the center of Southern California’s creative and business economy, and its neighbors include Cartoon Network, Comcast/NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., and PricewaterhouseCoopers, to name a few. This prime location gives students the opportunity to intern and work alongside industry professionals at some of the biggest creative companies in the world. Since 1998, Woodbury has also offered bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture at its satellite campus in San Diego.
RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 46%
Undergraduates: 18%
Campus housing options.
Coed dorms
Woodbury University’s education emphasizes quality, creativity, innovation, communication in many media, social responsibility, personal and professional growth, and problem solving in teams drawn from diverse fields. Faculty and staff serve as mentors and guides to help students embody these principles.
INTERNSHIPS
All students engage in significant internships and work experiences that are intended to lead them to post-graduate jobs. Using Burbank and Hollywood as a lab, students gain career experiences with such companies as Cartoon Network, Comcast/NBC Universal, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
FINAL PROJECTS
Before graduation, each student undertakes a significant project to demonstrate what they have learned. Whether they work alone or in a group, they are sure to challenge themselves with a strong understanding of their field. Typical assignments might be creating a new app, designing a new solar building, or serving as CEO of a simulated business.
Admission
ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very Important
Academic GPA
Important
Rigor of secondary school record
Considered
Standardized test scores | Application Essay | Recommendation(s)
Volunteer work | Work experience | Level of applicant’s interest
TEST SCORES
Optional
FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 500 | 75th Percentile: 600
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 455 | 75th Percentile: 588
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 19 | 75th Percentile: 24
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 17 | 75th Percentile: 24
ACT English
25th Percentile: 16 | 75th Percentile: 25
Tuition & Cost
Tuition: $41,102
Fees: $1,494
Room: $8,259
Board: $5,072
Aid
More than 75% of Woodbury’s students receive some kind of financial aid, with the average student financial aid package totaling more than $28,000 during the 2017-2018 academic year. Woodbury’s financial aid professionals work with students to coordinate a comprehensive financial aid package consisting of scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time employment through funding from state and federal programs as well as its own resources and donors. Domestic students entering as freshmen with a 3.5 GPA or better automatically receive a renewable, $18,000 merit scholarship from Woodbury. Other merit scholarships are available for students with lower GPAs as well.
Contact Woodbury University
Contact Admissions
woodbury.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admission/how-to-apply
(818) 252-5221
information@woodbury.edu
Campus Location
7500 N Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91504