California Lutheran University
About
California Lutheran University is a private university in Thousand Oaks, California, United States. It was founded in 1959 and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but is nonsectarian. It opened in 1960 as California Lutheran College and was the first four-year private college in Ventura County. It changed its name to California Lutheran University on January 1, 1986.
Admissions funnel
How selective is this institution, and how many admitted students choose to enroll?
Outcomes & equity
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell recipients graduate at a higher rate than non-Pell students here — unusual and worth investigating.
What families actually pay
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Academic programs
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Faculty
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
California Lutheran vs IPEDS peer group
The peer institutions California Lutheran selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectCalifornia Lutheran University | 70% | 75.7% | 3,351 | $26,433 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Chapman University | 82% | 65.4% | 9,760 | $47,527 | R2 Research |
Loyola Marymount University | 79% | 45.1% | 10,179 | $45,723 | R2 Research |
Pacific Lutheran University | 69% | 78.0% | 2,797 | $21,370 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
Saint Edward's University | 63% | 81.4% | 3,033 | $23,636 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Saint Mary's College of California | 70% | 86.5% | 2,734 | $31,198 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Santa Clara University | 88% | 48.0% | 9,728 | $50,959 | Doctoral/Professional |
University of La Verne | 63% | 71.2% | 5,021 | $26,925 | Doctoral/Professional |
University of Redlands | 67% | 82.7% | 3,087 | $22,867 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
University of San Diego | 84% | 52.4% | 9,714 | $31,265 | R2 Research |
University of San Francisco | 70% | 61.7% | 8,913 | $39,495 | Doctoral/Professional |
University of the Pacific | 68% | 71.3% | 6,944 | $25,926 | Doctoral/Professional |
Valparaiso University | 70% | 89.4% | 2,579 | $21,583 | Doctoral/Professional |
| Peer group median | 70% | 71.3% | 5,021 | $26,925 |
Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Institutional Research office preserves all university data and oversees the collection, analysis, and distribution of institutional data to the campus community and stakeholders. Our mission is to provide accurate and timely data to the campus community and assist with assessment and planning to support effective and informed decision-making.
Visit IR office page- Taiwo AndeSenior Associate Provost, Educational Effectiveness, Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO)
- Katie RodriguezAdministrative Coordinator, Educational Effectiveness
- Melinda MedlenSenior Institutional Research Analyst
Common Data Set (14)
The institution's official annual Common Data Set publications — the most detailed reference for enrollment, admissions, and outcomes.
Documents & reports (6)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- Data definitionCommon Data Set | Cal Lutheran Fact BookThis page provides a comprehensive overview of the Common Data Set initiative at California Lutheran University, an effort aimed at enhancing the quality and accuracy of data shared in higher education, facilitating student transitions. It includes multiple academic and administrative data resources, as well as links to past Common Data Sets spanning several academic years.callutheran.edu
- Data dictionaryCommon Data Set | Cal Lutheran Fact Book2026The Common Data Set (CDS) initiative is a collaborative effort aimed at improving the quality and accuracy of information provided to all involved in a student's transition into higher education. It encompasses various aspects of California Lutheran University's operations, such as admissions, enrollment, faculty, and finance. The page provides access to CDS reports from the 2010-11 academic year through to a draft version for 2024-25.callutheran.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookCal Lutheran Fact Book2026The Cal Lutheran Fact Book provides statistical information gathered for both internal and external reporting, continually expanding in content and historical depth. Accuracy is prioritized, and data requests can be made through the Office of Educational Effectiveness and Institutional Research.callutheran.edu
- GlossaryCommon Data Set | Cal Lutheran Fact BookThe Common Data Set section of the California Lutheran University Fact Book provides a collaborative data resource aimed at improving the quality and reliability of the data regarding admissions, enrollment, degrees, and more at the university. It supports the transition of students into higher education through standardized data definitions and reports, and is an important part of the university’s commitment to transparency and educational effectiveness.callutheran.edu
- Strategic plan2022-2027 Strategic Plan2022California Lutheran University initiated an integrated strategic and campus planning process in Fall 2021, with implementation extending through 2027. The plan focuses on identifying top curricular, co-curricular, and workforce priorities and involves revising physical campus aspects to support these goals. The effort includes several planning groups and employs feedback from the community to ensure comprehensive development.callutheran.edu
Grants & funding opportunities (6)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
- opportunityConference Travel GrantCalifornia Lutheran Universityinstitution_site
- opportunityDissertation Support GrantCalifornia Lutheran Universityinstitution_site
- opportunityFull-time Summer Research OpportunitiesCalifornia Lutheran Universityinstitution_site
- opportunityResearch Supplies GrantCalifornia Lutheran Universityinstitution_site
- opportunitySocial Sciences GrantCalifornia Lutheran Universityinstitution_site
- opportunityUndergraduate Summer Research FellowshipsCalifornia Lutheran Universityinstitution_site
Notable alumni (16)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Dave ArandaAthletics
- Nikki BacharachMusic
- Catherine ByrnePolitics
- Lance ClowPolitics
- Mark CovertAthletics
- Jason DolleyEntertainment
- Jacquelynne FontaineMusic
- Mike HaluchakAthletics
- Ray HaynesPolitics
- Carol HeyerArts
- Tim LaKoseAthletics
- Stephen LambdinSports
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