Admit rate has ranged 71%–89% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
California Lutheran University carves out a distinct niche as a small, hands-on liberal arts college with a practical bent, nestled in the affluent, sun-drenched Conejo Valley. It’s a place where the classroom experience is emphasized and a majority of students dive into internships, producing graduates who reliably land jobs or enter grad school. The vibe is more supportive and community-focused than intensely competitive, anchored by a sprawling, suburban campus that feels more like a peaceful retreat than a bustling university town.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,296
In-state tuition
$52,560
Out-of-state tuition
$52,560
Graduation Rate
70%
First-Year Retention
79%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$68,712
Post-Grad Success Rate
94% (employed or in grad school within 9 months)
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$68,712
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.3×
Median debt at graduation
$21,669
Graduation rate
70%
First-year retention
79%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
71%
Pell (lower-income) share
31%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
35%
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$57,995
Accounting and Related Services$55,512
Business Administration, Management and Operations$48,823
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$46,478
Political Science and Government$36,312
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
2
Per 1,000 students
0.60
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
208
Summer high
86°F
Winter low
47°F
Annual rain
17"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
80
Scholarly works
1,394
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.2%
Bottom → top quintile
38%
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at California Lutheran University?
California Lutheran University's acceptance rate is approximately 76% (Thousand Oaks, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for California Lutheran University?
Admitted students at California Lutheran University typically score 1150–1330 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does California Lutheran University cost?
At California Lutheran University, the average net price (after aid) is about $30,109 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend California Lutheran University?
California Lutheran University enrolls approximately 2,296 undergraduate students.
Where is California Lutheran University located?
California Lutheran University is located in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Admissions
Cal Lutheran operates with a moderately selective admissions process, where the majority of applicants are admitted. The university is , with a significant 80% of admitted students in recent cycles choosing not to submit standardized test scores. For those who do submit, the middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1140-1360, though the canonical SAT range used for published materials is 1150–1330. The admissions office offers a nonbinding Early Action plan with a November 15 deadline for notification by mid-January; in a prior cycle, the Early Action was notably high at 79.34%. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported to be low, at 11%. While the outlines factors considered in admission decisions, specific details on the relative importance of factors like demonstrated interest for Cal Lutheran are not provided in the available sources.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$36,275
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$33,993
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$33,993
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The academic offering is built around a core of career-launching majors, with over 40 undergraduate options that integrate research and professional experiences. The curriculum emphasizes a high-quality classroom experience. The most popular majors reflect a practical orientation: Business Administration and Management (15% of graduates), Psychology (13%), and Biology/Biological Sciences (7%). Degrees are also offered in fields like accounting, communication, organizational leadership, and criminology and criminal justice. The intimate scale of the university facilitates one-on-one interaction between students and faculty, a noted characteristic of the academic environment.
Life on the Thousand Oaks campus is described as a stimulating environment where students learn and live as part of a community. The campus is noted for its beauty and relatively small size, which fosters accessibility and close connections. The Office of Student Life aims to empower students through impactful experiences and leadership development. There is a strong emphasis on organized activity, with over 500 student events and more than 60 clubs and organizations available. The university promotes its setting as a safe, diverse, and inclusive space for personal growth, and student life extends beyond academics to include a vibrant social scene.
Cal Lutheran posts solid outcomes, with a strong track record of placing graduates into careers or further education. A notable 94% of graduates secure a job or enroll in graduate school within nine months of graduation. The university's graduation rate is reported as strong, placing it within the top 20% nationally; specific figures from sources include a 74% overall rate and a 72% four-year rate. Retention of first-year students is reported at 79%. The median earnings for alumni ten years after entry is a robust $68,712, which ranks in the top 8% nationally.
As a private institution, Cal Lutheran's sticker price is substantial, but the average after aid is significantly lower. The university encourages all students to apply for financial aid, and assistance includes grants, scholarships, loans, and employment. It participates in federal student loan programs and certifies private alternative loans. While sources detail the components of aid packages—with average aid packages reported at $44,456 and need-based scholarships/grants at $38,235—there is no indication in the provided sources that Cal Lutheran has a policy of meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need or a "no-loan" policy where loans are replaced entirely by grants. Prospective students are directed to use the university's Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate.
Cal Lutheran stands out for its potent combination of a personalized, supportive liberal arts environment and a fiercely pragmatic focus on career outcomes. It’s not an ivory tower; it’s a launchpad. The 94% post-graduation success rate isn't a vague promise—it's a documented result, backed by a curriculum built around professional experiences. The campus itself, a serene oasis in wealthy Thousand Oaks, facilitates the close-knit community and faculty access that defines the student experience. This is a university for students who want the attention and mentorship of a small college but are unequivocally focused on turning their degree into a tangible next step, whether that's a first job or graduate school. It delivers a high return on investment, evidenced by its strong median graduate earnings, without the cutthroat pressure of more famous California institutions.
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