Outcomes
Strong post-grad earnings
Median earnings 10 yrs out are above the graduate average.
This school$68.7k
National avg$48k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA
California Lutheran University at a glance
California Lutheran University is a private university in Thousand Oaks, California with 3,351 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 76% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published tuition is $52,560 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $30,109 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 70% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 50% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $21,669 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Business Administration, master's ($150,979) and Finance, master's ($101,050) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$52,560
2024-25
Acceptance
76%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
3,351
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$52,560
Out-of-State Tuition
$52,560
Avg On-Campus Living
$16,810
Avg Off-Campus Living
$22,086
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $69,370
Net price (after aid): $30,109
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $22,161
$30k – $48k: $23,668
$48k – $75k: $24,318
$75k – $110k: $29,303 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$110k+: $38,364 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $75k – $110k, $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $12,864. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $68,712
Median debt at graduation: $21,669
Est. monthly loan payment: $230
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Strong · 3.2×Graduates earn about 3.2× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 31%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 50%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedCalifornia Lutheran University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $73,499, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
70%
Freshman Retention
79%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Manageable graduate debt
$21.7k below avg
Strong completion rate
70% above avg
Scholarships available
Aid signal
Affordability snapshot
Tuition
$52.6k
Net price
$30.1k
Pell
31%
Median debt
$21.7k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$68.7k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
76%
SAT range
1150 - 1330
ACT range
24 - 31
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Academics
Studying online: a small share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 159 of California Lutheran University's 3,413 students (5%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 273 (8%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
California Lutheran University reported conferring credentials in 50 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if California Lutheran University caught your interest.
Saint Mary's College of California
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Tuition $57,803 87% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.University of La Verne
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Tuition $49,470 71% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Dominican University of California
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Tuition $52,161 83% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.The Master's University and Seminary
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Tuition $39,020 84% acceptSame state. Lower-cost option. Similar acceptance.Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, CA
Tuition $54,170 75% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Tuition $43,480 66% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.
Graduate earnings by program
What California Lutheran University graduates earn, by program
California Lutheran University's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $76,916 four years after graduating, 13% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $55,234; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $23,000 in federal loans at this college (about $244 a month on a 10-year plan).
28 programs at California Lutheran University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $76,916 | $68,257, +13% | $23,000 | $244/mo |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $59,153 | $50,706, +17% | $23,000 | $244/mo |
| Business Administration, Master's | $150,979 | $103,485, +46% | $41,000 | $466/mo |
| Student Counseling, Master's | $82,204 | $60,111, +37% | $51,250 | $583/mo |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's | $59,820 | $54,562, +10% | $24,000 | $254/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $64,939 | $57,214, +14% | $22,587 | $239/mo |
| Communication, Bachelor's | $61,653 | $56,359, +9% | $20,802 | $221/mo |
| Criminology, Bachelor's | — | $55,556 | $18,250 | $193/mo |
| Mental Health and Social Services, Master's | $68,901 | $59,571, +16% | $44,500 | $506/mo |
| Finance, Master's | $101,050 | $110,694, −9% | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's | $60,806 | $53,072, +15% | $20,000 | $212/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $77,030 | $107,009, −28% | $21,750 | $231/mo |
Compare what Business Administration pays at other colleges
What the job pays locally
- Accounting graduates train as accountants and auditors: median $97,050 in California.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 16 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Bachelor's | $89,573 | $76,194, +18% | $22,078 | $234/mo |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $60,243 | $63,293, −5% | $19,750 | $209/mo |
| Special Education, Master's | $81,041 | $64,397, +26% | $14,600 | $166/mo |
| Management Science, Bachelor's | $83,310 | $86,176, −3% | $24,728 | $262/mo |
| Music, Bachelor's | $32,316 | $42,892, −25% | $25,990 | $276/mo |
| Educational Administration, Master's | $95,459 | $71,685, +33% | $26,486 | $301/mo |
| Biochemistry, Bachelor's | — | $65,466 | $16,145 | $171/mo |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $67,998 | $52,657, +29% | — | — |
| English, Bachelor's | $52,428 | $48,590, +8% | $24,000 | $254/mo |
| Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor's | $70,409 | $55,693, +26% | $22,875 | $243/mo |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other, Bachelor's | $68,806 | $55,384, +24% | $24,250 | $257/mo |
| Educational Administration, Doctoral | $97,243 | $100,573, −3% | — | — |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Master's | $72,020 | $59,916, +20% | — | — |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Doctoral | — | $99,878 | $181,467 | $2,064/mo |
| Criminal Justice, Bachelor's | $63,433 | $55,378, +15% | $20,000 | $212/mo |
| Public Administration, Master's | $77,919 | $81,408, −4% | — | — |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
About California Lutheran University
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is California Lutheran University located?
- California Lutheran University is located in Thousand Oaks, CA, in the United States.
- What type of institution is California Lutheran University?
- California Lutheran University is a private university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at California Lutheran University?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at California Lutheran University is approximately 76% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at California Lutheran University?
- California Lutheran University's published in-state tuition is approximately $52,560 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend California Lutheran University?
- California Lutheran University reports total enrollment of approximately 3,351 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does California Lutheran University actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at California Lutheran University is approximately $30,109 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $22,161 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $38,364. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at California Lutheran University?
- California Lutheran University reports a graduation rate of approximately 70% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of California Lutheran University have?
- Students who borrowed at California Lutheran University left with a median of approximately $21,669 in federal loans, and about 50% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of California Lutheran University earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $68,712 for students who received federal financial aid at California Lutheran University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about California Lutheran University?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with California Lutheran University.
- How much do Business Administration graduates from California Lutheran University earn?
- California Lutheran University's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $76,916 four years after graduating, 13% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $55,234; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $23,000 in federal loans at this college (about $244 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much do Psychology graduates from California Lutheran University earn?
- California Lutheran University's bachelor's graduates in Psychology earned a median $59,153 four years after graduating, 17% above the $50,706 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $30,918; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $23,000 in federal loans at this college (about $244 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $25,000 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
- Which programs at California Lutheran University have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 15 programs at California Lutheran University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Business Administration, master's ($150,979); Finance, master's ($101,050); and Educational Administration, master's ($95,459) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does California Lutheran University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, California Lutheran University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $73,499, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 50 fields California Lutheran University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 165 | Graduate (72 graduate · 93 bachelor's) |
| Psychology, General | 89 | Bachelor's |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 74 | Graduate (6 graduate · 68 bachelor's) |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 55 | Graduate |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 52 | Graduate |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 51 | Graduate |
| Biology, General | 50 | Bachelor's |
| Education, General | 45 | Graduate |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 43 | Graduate |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 38 | Graduate |
| Criminology | 35 | Bachelor's |
| Communication and Media Studies | 30 | Bachelor's |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 28 | Graduate |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 27 | Graduate (13 graduate · 14 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. All colleges in California. California college costs by family income. Student debt at California colleges. Computer science in California. Business in California. Nursing in California. Psychology in California. Engineering in California.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with California Lutheran University before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of California Lutheran University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). California Lutheran University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/california-lutheran-university
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