California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA · Private · Midsize city · CLU
Private institution in Thousand Oaks, CA · 2,374 undergraduates · 89% acceptance rate · $68,712 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 16%Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- Top 16%Graduation rate (4-year)
- Top 18%Median earnings, 6 years after entry
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $26,4331,575th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $50,6701,834th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $50,6701,831st cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $63,7681,753rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $21,669861st lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $68,712307th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $54,981348th highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 74.0%321st highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 80.6%641st highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 88.9%1,202nd most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1224341st highest of 1,024 reporting
- Median ACT
- 26270th highest of 954 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 2,374837th largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 13.0:1993rd smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 30.2%1,190th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 33 mi (LAX)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- EANov 15
- RDJan 15
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- $25
- Personal essay
- Required
- Writing supplement
- No
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 37 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | bachelors | $71,575 | $57,995 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBusiness | bachelors | $69,338 | — |
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $60,128 | $55,512 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $47,473 | $48,823 |
| Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement | bachelors | $42,235 | $36,275 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, OtherCommunications | bachelors | $40,467 | $46,478 |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | $34,908 | $31,133 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | $32,925 | $24,421 |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | $32,174 | $25,194 |
| Psychology, GeneralPsychology | bachelors | $31,133 | $29,033 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLiberal Arts | bachelors | $30,771 | $33,993 |
| Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences | bachelors | $26,532 | $36,312 |
Campus facts
- Religious affiliation: Evangelical Lutheran Churchsource
- Founded in 1959source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
- Formerly known as "California Lutheran College" (1959–1986)source
- Plays for the "The Smudge Pot{{cite web |last1=Potkey |first1=Rhiannon |title=CLU, Redlands play for smudge pot trophy |url=https://archive.vcstar.com/sports/clu-redlands-play-for-smudge-pot-trophy-ep-667090592-351001371.html#:~:text=The%20teams%20will%20be%20playing%20for%20bragging,was%20introduced%20to%20the%20rivalry%20in%202012. |website=Ventura County Star}}" (since 2012)source
- Fight song: ""The CLU Fight Song""source
- Athletic nickname: "Kingsmen"source
- Notable alum: Jason Dolleysource
Athletics — 13 sports
NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III
Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field (Outdoor)
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Baseball: 2017
- Soccer: 2023
- Volleyball: 2015
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.
Key links
- Official websitecallutheran.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 110413)
- Compare colleges in CARe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in CaliforniaEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: California Lutheran University vs Stanbridge UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 13 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.