Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
- More
Thousand Oaks , CA
California Lutheran University (CLU) is a private liberal arts university located in Thousand Oaks, California. Founded in 1959, CLU is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, emphasizing the integration of faith and learning. The university provides a nurturing and inclusive environment that focuses on intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
CLU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. The university's undergraduate programs include majors in fields such as business administration, psychology, biology, computer science, and communication. Additionally, CLU offers several pre-professional programs, including pre-law and pre-medicine. At the graduate level, the university offers master's degrees in areas such as education, psychology, business, and public policy, as well as a doctoral degree in educational leadership.
The campus of CLU spans over 225 acres and features state-of-the-art facilities, including modern academic buildings, laboratories, a library, and residential halls. The university emphasizes the importance of experiential learning, providing opportunities for internships, study abroad programs, and undergraduate research. Furthermore, CLU has a strong commitment to community service, encouraging students to engage in service learning projects and contribute to the local community. With its focus on academic excellence, spiritual growth, and social engagement, California Lutheran University offers a well-rounded education and prepares students for meaningful careers and a life of purpose.
Located in Thousand Oaks, CA and set in a suburban environment, California Lutheran University is a private university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 75%. The freshman retention rate at California Lutheran University is 79% and the six-year graduation rate is 70%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is June 15.
Read more about what California Lutheran University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
2,297
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$51,750
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
70%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most vital data you have to know about admission policy and requirements at California Lutheran University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 4,544 in 2025. California Lutheran University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 7% and ACT scores 3%. 6% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 62% between 1,200 and 1,399, 25% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 8% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 38, 38 between 24-29 and 25 in the range between 18-23.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 27 and the average GPA was 3.74. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 625 and an average SAT Math score of 605.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is January 15. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is June 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for California Lutheran University was 79% in 2025, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 70%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best match for you is not a simple task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 3,351 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 13.6. There was a total of 2,297 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 83 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 162.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,295 male and 1,805 female full-time students in 2025. There were 316 full-time graduate male and 586 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at California Lutheran University.
This school had 127 Asian students and 103 Afro-American students in 2025. 941 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 149 identified with more than one race. The school also had 10 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 3 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 55 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for California Lutheran University.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at California Lutheran University? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $51,750 for all full-time domestic students. California Lutheran University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $810 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $420.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, room and board cost at California Lutheran University amounted to $16,810 a year. If you only needed a room on the campus, it cost $9,000 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 51,750 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,810 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 420 |
| Total Expense | $ 68,980 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial help for students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at California Lutheran University.
According to the most recent data, 374 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $40,625.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 1,471 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at California Lutheran University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,487. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $528,355, and state $6,139,931. The students of California Lutheran University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $46,187,683, and external in the amount of $583,654.
$29,036
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 654 students overall (including freshmen) at California Lutheran University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 127 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $19,150,145. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $207,408 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at California Lutheran University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 408 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 196 men and 212 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at California Lutheran University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at California Lutheran University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at California Lutheran University.
Its campus spans 225 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 96. The student organization that is most favored by students is Multicultural Organizations, followed by Campus Ministry or other religiously affiliated organization and Service Organizations. Other popular student organizations at this school are Recreation or Club Sports related and Student Government.
For those interested in acting, there is a drama club you can become part of. Interested in media and communication? California Lutheran University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
California Lutheran University offers a number of services vital for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of California Lutheran University.
All in all, campus life at California Lutheran University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at California Lutheran University.
Career Counselling
At California Lutheran University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
-
California Lutheran University is located in Thousand Oaks, CA.
-
California Lutheran University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The overall full-time tuition per academic year for California Lutheran University is 51,750 USD, based on the most recent data.
-
This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
-
According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for California Lutheran University is 75%.
-
According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for California Lutheran University is 79%.
Contact Information
California Lutheran University
60 West Olsen Road
Thousand Oaks , CA
91360-2787
805 492-2411
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
