Quad

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CAQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

California Lutheran admits about 8 in 10 applicants (76%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 53% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

76%

76%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

6,005

Admitted

4,544

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.68

SAT middle 50%

1150–1330

10001600
ACT middle 50%

24–31

1836
Applications −7% since fall 2014 · admit rate 61% → 76%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,296 undergrads, where 31% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

2.3K

undergrads · larger than 61% of colleges

Diversity index

0.69

Pell Grant

31%

below the median

First generation

35%

above the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-III · Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.66 → 0.69 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (13% of graduates). 13 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 50% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $12,168 a year on instruction per student.

13 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 50% of colleges

Most popular major

Psychology, General

13% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Accounting and Related Services

$89.6K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

100%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$12.2K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $37,718 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $13.4K more than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $32,774 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $73,386.

49%

$37.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $13.4K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$73,386 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
30% · avg $30K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 49% of full price

Federal loans

50%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −12% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $68,712 ten years after enrolling, more than at 82% of colleges; 76% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.2 years of that salary.

76%

76%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$68.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$21.7K

≈ $230/month for 10 years

Retention

79%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 66% → 70% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 12%, because grants grew faster. Applications fell 7% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 61% to 76%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −12% after inflation

  • Applications

    Steady

    −7%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 61% → 76%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.66 → 0.69

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Rider University

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Manhattan University

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18

    California Lutheran University · Fall 2017; 2017–18 (estimated); Fall 2018 entrants; 2017–18; Fall 2018 cycle; Class of 2017 · retrieved 2026-10-11

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    California Lutheran University (2026)

    California Lutheran University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 110413 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything