The University of Redlands has officially absorbed Burbank's Woodbury University, capping a two-year process that turns the longtime creative-arts hub into a new Los Angeles area campus. The deal, finalized this week after federal review, rebrands the Burbank site as the University of Redlands, Los Angeles and folds Woodbury's architecture, design, media and business programs into Redlands' lineup. For students and employers across the Los Angeles creative economy, the merger is being pitched as a tighter, local pipeline for hands-on training and internships.
Approvals That Cleared The Deal
The U.S. Department of Education gave final sign-off after a two-step, two-year review, formally establishing Redlands as the continuing institution, according to the University of Redlands. The WASC Senior College and University Commission signed off on the structural change in May 2026, removing a major accreditation hurdle for the newly combined school, per WSCUC.
Leaders Pitch The Expansion
Calling the move "a defining moment for our institution," University of Redlands President Krista Newkirk said the Burbank campus will "dramatically expand students’ educational opportunities and pursuits," according to the university. Jamison "Jim" Ashby, immediate past chair of Redlands’ board, said the integration "reflects the University’s strategic vision" and will broaden access for students, the announcement notes. In other words, Redlands leaders are framing the deal as both a growth play and a way to plug students directly into Los Angeles' creative scene.
What The New L.A. Campus Will Offer
The Burbank property will operate under the name University of Redlands, Los Angeles and will house the Woodbury School of Architecture, the Woodbury School of Design and Media Arts and the Woodbury Business Institute, according to the schools' merger FAQ. Officials say the 2026-27 academic year will feature co-branded Redlands and Woodbury marks before the full University of Redlands, Los Angeles identity takes over, per Woodbury University. For students on campus, that means a transition year where the signage and branding will be catching up to the paperwork.
Why This Matters
The deal slots into a broader consolidation trend among small private colleges as demographic and financial pressures push institutions to pool resources, higher-ed experts say. Observers note that Redlands has been stacking up partnerships in recent years as it widens both its program mix and geographic footprint, and this latest move tracks with that pattern of strategic growth, according to Inside Higher Ed. In short, Redlands is not dabbling here, it is building out a network.
Student And Diploma Details
Officials say degree requirements and academic records will remain intact through the transition and that transcripts will continue to be valid. Spring and Summer 2026 graduates will receive Woodbury diplomas, while Fall 2026 and later graduates will receive University of Redlands diplomas that note the Woodbury unit, according to the Woodbury merger FAQ on the university's site. The promise from administrators: no one gets stranded mid-degree as the logos change.
Next Steps
Administrators plan to spend the summer aligning schedules, financial aid and records for the combined operation. Local reporting states that Redlands has assumed Woodbury's assets and liabilities and that the Los Angeles campus could enroll roughly 3,500 students next year, according to Redlands Daily Facts. With WSCUC and federal sign-off in hand, the major regulatory pieces are finished, but university leaders say operational details, from staffing plans to how facilities are used, will be hammered out in the months ahead.
For now, officials are pointing current and prospective students to the schools' admissions pages and merger FAQs for the fine print on registration, diplomas and course availability as fall schedules are locked in.
