Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (75% and 76%).
$25 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
11% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
Uses a wait list; numbers not published
Applying early
Restrictive early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Jan 15
Restrictive early action: applicants agree not to apply to other colleges' early plans, with exceptions the college sets.
Where you stand
How California Lutheran reads a record
GPA is very important; class rank and tests are both important. 50% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so . Scores are optional. 13% of first-years sent an SAT and 3% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 41% whose high school reported a rank, 28% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of math and 3 of science (3 and 2 required). See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Considered
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Considered
- Work experience
- Not considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Considered
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
65% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 76% of first-year applicants
662 applied · 428 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 30 semester completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.8
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Spring entry: priority date October 1, apply by December 15
What the application needs
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required of some
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 1 for fall 2018.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- $400 housing deposit, due May 31, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2 / –) | 2 | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 | – |
| Social studies | 2 | – |
| Total | 13* | 11* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2017 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.68
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.00%
- 3.75–3.9950%
- 3.50–3.7420%
- 3.25–3.4915%
- 3.00–3.249%
- below 3.06%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.25–3.99.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 0.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 50.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 20.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 15.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 9.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 5.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 1.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
28% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 66% in the top quarter, of the 41% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18, Fall 2017About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1240 on the SAT, 70 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18, 2017–18;California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18, Fall 2017;California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18, Fall 2018 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)