Loma Linda is indeed associated with Seventh Day Adventists. Yes, there is a chapel on campus and classes in theology/religion/etc. No, you do not need to be 7th Day Adventist to attend the school; nor do they try to convert you from what I understand. I had an interview at LLU (for a different program) and spoke to others on campus. They told me professors, staff and students come from a variety of backgrounds and faiths. The school definitely encourages the openness to and exploration of spirituality; but you are not required to profess any certain faith and classes are not faith-related (except in the school of religion). It is a school for health professions. A large part of their philosophy is to bring healing to people, as their Christian foundation calls them to do. They also have a strong focus on global missions.
But to answer your question: Yes, Loma Linda is a legitimate school. They have a respected school of medicine, as well as schools of dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, etc. There are also plenty of hospitals/health centers on and around campus. At my undergrad institution (UC Irvine), I have had professors who graduated from LLU. I can't speak to the quality of your specific program, but in general LLU provides quality education.
Having said that, there may be other lifestyle factors that you may wish to consider. LLU is a vegetarian campus--I did not know that until I visited. I read that quality of health in the area is very high due to their diet and lifestyle. Secondly, although you are not forced to participate in religious activities, as 7th Day Adventists they do observe their sabbath by resting. This means all offices, etc. are closed from sundown on Friday til sundown on Saturday. They believe that there should be a rhythm of work and rest, to be refreshed and replenished for the next week. Thirdly, there is not much to do in the area. Take this with a grain of salt, as I did not have time to explore much. I'm sure there are things to do, of course. But don't expect LLU to have a college town or nightlife in the immediate area. Hope is not lost: You can drive to downtown Riverside or surrounding cities, which aren't too far away. Okay, that's all I have to say about LLU for now. Good luck with your decisions!
