California Lutheran University
- Graduation Rate
- 72% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $68,712 A
- Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $30,109 F
- 76% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $15.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,707,767.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 69% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why California Lutheran University Matters
California Lutheran University is a private university in Thousand Oaks, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,296
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI · 39
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose California Lutheran University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1150–1330. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $30,109 a year after grants and scholarships — 76% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $68,712 ten years after enrolling — 69% above the typical college, against $21,669 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 63% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.85 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
California Lutheran University has a graduation rate of 72%, which is significant for a private nonprofit institution. This figure suggests a supportive environment that helps students transition from enrollment to degree completion. The university serves 2,296 students, with a relatively high acceptance rate of 76%, making it accessible to a broad range of applicants.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data is not available for California Lutheran University specifically, but the outcomes and mobility of its graduates can be inferred from their median earnings. Graduates earn an impressive average of $68,712 within ten years of completing their degrees. This indicates that students can find solid career opportunities post-graduation, particularly in popular fields like Business & Marketing, Psychology, and Social Sciences.
In terms of financial considerations, the net price for attending California Lutheran University is $30,109, with a median student debt of $21,669. About 31% of students receive Pell Grants, highlighting the university's commitment to supporting low-income students. Those who thrive here are often individuals seeking a community-oriented atmosphere and a strong focus on personal and professional development.
Rankings
- #12 Best Online Colleges in California
- #14 Best Business Colleges in California
- #14 Best Communications Colleges in California
- #14 Best MBA Programs in California
- #17 Best Psychology Colleges in California
- #19 Best Computer Science Colleges in California
- #19 Best Data Science Colleges in California
- #21 Best Biology Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective California Lutheran University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into California Lutheran University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Thousand Oaks, California, California Lutheran University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,266. The graduation rate is roughly 72%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- SAT Average
- 1266
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1150–1330
- ACT Range
- 24–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,794
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 5,150
- Admitted
- 4,490
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California Lutheran University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California Lutheran University is $52,560, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,109. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,161 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,669 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $52,560
- Out-of-State
- $52,560
- Avg Net Price
- $30,109
- Median Debt
- $21,669
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 50%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $22,161
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $23,668
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $24,318
- Family Income $110K+
- $38,364
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at California Lutheran University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is California Lutheran University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California Lutheran University earn a median of $68,712, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $54,981
- 8 Years
- $64,258
- 10 Years
- $68,712
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (365)
- 66%
- 100% (365)
- 66%
- 100% (365)
- 66%
- 100% (365)
- 66%
How California Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is California Lutheran University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, California Lutheran University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $30,109/year ($120,436 total). Graduates earn $68,712 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,828,203 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,707,767 (15.2× your investment). The median debt is $21,669, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 72% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $120,436
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,828,203
- Net Return
- $1,707,767
- ROI Multiple
- 15.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $30,109
- Median Debt
- $21,669
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 72%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does California Lutheran University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
California Lutheran University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.23%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 38.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $110,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.23%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 38.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $150,267
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-107,326
Top Programs
The fields California Lutheran University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 20% $82,463 early-career
- Psychology 13% $34,497 early-career
- Social Sciences 10% $43,146 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 9% $21,491 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $40,390 early-career
- Communications 8% $55,225 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $68,909 early-career
- Humanities 3% $25,880 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for California Lutheran University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into California Lutheran University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Thousand Oaks, California, California Lutheran University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,266. The graduation rate is roughly 72%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California Lutheran University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California Lutheran University is $52,560, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,109. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,161 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,669 in federal student loans.
Is California Lutheran University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California Lutheran University earn a median of $68,712, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does California Lutheran University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
California Lutheran University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.23%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 38.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $110,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is California Lutheran University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California Lutheran University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to California Lutheran University.
- Emmanuel CollegeBoston, MA · Close peer67% grad $68,245 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Norton, MA · Close peer74% grad $67,725 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- St. John Fisher UniversityRochester, NY · Close peer74% grad $66,944 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of RedlandsRedlands, CA · Close peer69% grad $72,690 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lewis & Clark CollegePortland, OR · Close peer73% grad $62,205 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- John Carroll UniversityUniversity Heights, OH · Close peer78% grad $62,860 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is California Lutheran University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California Lutheran University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note