Cost & aid
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.
- 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)
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- With an average merit award: $43K · proxy: 30% got one. A possibility, not a promise
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $22K a year |
| $30–48K | $24K a year |
| $48–75K | $24K a year |
| $75–110K | $29K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
$37,718
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
99% got grants averaging $35,855; 1% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$21.7K
≈ $230/month for 10 years
2.2 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 2 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full20%
- Paying it down28%
- Payments paused30%
- Not paying it down18%
- Behind or in default4%
- Forgiven or discharged0–1%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
GenerousGrants cover 49% of the $73,386 full price on average across all first-years (generous), more than at 72% of colleges. The sticker price overstates what most students here actually pay.
$35,668 in grants per first-year ÷ $73,386 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (575), 2023–24
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (575)
- Federal aid + grants399avg grant $38.3K
- Grants, no federal aid173avg grant $30.2K
- No grants3pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (399 of 575), because income is only reported for them.
Applying for aid
For fall 2018 entrants.
Priority date: March 1 · Deadline: July 1 · Aid offers: on a rolling basis from February 15 · Reply by: May 1
Dates for fall 2018 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
What the college's own scholarships consider
| Academics | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni connection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Art | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leadership | ✓ | ✓ |
| Music or drama | ✓ | ✓ |
| Religious affiliation | ✓ | ✓ |
| State or district residency | ✓ | ✓ |
A blank means the college didn't mark it, not that it never counts.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18, 2017–18 (estimated);California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18, Fall 2018 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)