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 & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell and non-Pell students graduate at nearly identical rates, a notably small equity gap.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 76 Title IV programs, 24 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 51 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing24 · 31.6%
- No Data51 · 67.1%
- Failing1 · 1.3%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 2
Action history · 5
- Jun 2025Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Apr 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Clinical Psychology (CLPSYD) - PsyD Doctoral programs
- Feb 2023Removal of Monitoring StatusWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Feb 2021Heightened Monitoring or Focused ReviewWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Jun 2015Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
Tuition & cost
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.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 926 students received $5.4M in Pell grants, alongside $29.2M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 1,065 borrowers who entered repayment, 11 (1.0%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at California Lutheran
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 13
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus5
Includes 2 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Mount Clef Hall1 fireMachinery/IndustrialDamage $100-$999
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
California Lutheran vs Peer comparison
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 | $30,109 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| 82% | 65.4% | 9,760 | $46,555 | R2 Research | |
| 79% | 45.1% | 10,179 | $48,381 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 78.0% | 2,797 | $19,589 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 63% | 81.4% | 3,033 | $25,578 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 70% | 86.5% | 2,734 | $30,378 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 88% | 48.0% | 9,728 | $50,062 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 63% | 71.2% | 5,021 | $20,161 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 67% | 82.7% | 3,087 | $30,031 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 84% | 52.4% | 9,714 | $30,365 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 61.7% | 8,913 | $41,431 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 68% | 71.3% | 6,944 | $25,447 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 70% | 89.4% | 2,579 | $18,578 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| Peer group median | 70% | 71.3% | 5,021 | $30,109 |
Institutions like California Lutheran
Explore the federal data for institutions in California Lutheran's comparison group.
- R2 ResearchCalifornia
Chapman University
Grad rate82%Admit rate65.4%Enrollment9,760Net price$46,555View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate79%Admit rate45.1%Enrollment10,179Net price$48,381View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsWashington
Pacific Lutheran University
Grad rate69%Admit rate78.0%Enrollment2,797Net price$19,589View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsTexas
Saint Edward's University
Grad rate63%Admit rate81.4%Enrollment3,033Net price$25,578View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
Saint Mary's College of California
Grad rate70%Admit rate86.5%Enrollment2,734Net price$30,378View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Santa Clara University
Grad rate88%Admit rate48.0%Enrollment9,728Net price$50,062View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of La Verne
Grad rate63%Admit rate71.2%Enrollment5,021Net price$20,161View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
University of Redlands
Grad rate67%Admit rate82.7%Enrollment3,087Net price$30,031View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
University of San Diego
Grad rate84%Admit rate52.4%Enrollment9,714Net price$30,365View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of San Francisco
Grad rate70%Admit rate61.7%Enrollment8,913Net price$41,431View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of the Pacific
Grad rate68%Admit rate71.3%Enrollment6,944Net price$25,447View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalIndiana
Valparaiso University
Grad rate70%Admit rate89.4%Enrollment2,579Net price$18,578View data
California Lutheran 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
California Lutheran's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Selectivity & Admissions
Admissions funnel
C16,005 applied → 4,544 admitted (75.7%) → 502 enrolled.
Selectivity
C1Accessible — 75.7% acceptance rate.
Admit rate by gender
C1Admit rate varies by gender.
SAT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% SAT 1120–1330 (median 1260).
ACT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% ACT 24–31 (median 26).
High-school class rank
C10Share of enrolled first-years by HS class-rank band.
What matters in admission
C7Relative importance of each admission factor.
Affordability & Value
Cost of attendance
GTotal sticker cost of attendance is $76,459 (2025-2026).
Outcomes & Equity
Graduation & retention
B6-year graduation rate 70%; first-year retention 79%.
Equity: Pell graduation gap
B4Pell-grant recipients graduate 0 pts above the overall rate (70% vs 70%).
Academic Experience
Class-size distribution
I362% of classes have under 20 students; 1% have 50+.
Faculty profile
IKey faculty indicators.
Degrees by discipline
JSTEM-dominant: ~16% of bachelor's degrees are in computing, engineering, math & sciences.
Student Body & Diversity
Undergraduate race/ethnicity
B2Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity.
International students
B24% of undergraduates are international (nonresident).
Undergrad vs graduate
B12,297 undergraduates and 1,054 graduate students.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D1504 transfer applicants → 339 admitted (67.3%) → 162 enrolled — more selective than first-year admission.
Reports & documents (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 (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 of California Lutheran (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
Frequently asked questions about California Lutheran University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about California Lutheran.
What is the acceptance rate at California Lutheran University?
What is the graduation rate at California Lutheran University?
How many students attend California Lutheran University?
What is the average net price at California Lutheran University?
What is the yield rate at California Lutheran University?
Where is California Lutheran University located?
Who runs Institutional Research at California Lutheran University?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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