Can you get into California Lutheran University?
Thousand Oaks, CA · Private · 2,296 students Here is the class that got in, and where your numbers land inside it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
What it took to get in
Acceptance rate
75.7%
SAT middle 50%
1150–1330
median 1190
ACT middle 50%
24–31
median 26
Testing
Required
14% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
72%
within six years
Common App
Accepted
Reported by the college
What California Lutheran University actually reads
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It is the most useful thing they say about admissions and almost nobody reads it, because knowing that an essay is very important here and class rank is not considered changes where the work should go.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Grades
- Course rigor
- Essay
- Recommendations
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Class rank
- Test scores
- Legacy
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Work experience
From the federal IPEDS admissions survey, 2024. It records whether California Lutheran University considers each factor, but not how heavily, and it does not ask about extracurriculars, character, or demonstrated interest. Where a school publishes its Common Data Set we use that instead.
Deadlines · 2026 cycle
When to apply
- Early ActionNovember 15, 2026
- Regular DecisionJanuary 15, 2027
California Lutheran University fills part of its class in the early round, where admit rates typically run higher. Early Decision is binding, so it only fits a clear first choice.
Real cost · 2024 data
What families actually pay
The sticker price is $68,426, but almost nobody pays it. Average net price at California Lutheran University by family income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$22,161
- $30k–$48k$23,668
- $48k–$75k$24,318
- $75k–$110k$29,303
- Over $110k$38,364
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price per year for aided first-time students. Your number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
More on California Lutheran University
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
California Lutheran University admissions, answered
What is California Lutheran University's acceptance rate?
California Lutheran University admits 75.7% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What SAT score do you need for California Lutheran University?
The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1150 and 1330. A score above 1330 clears the 75th percentile; below 1150, the rest of the application has to carry more weight.
Is California Lutheran University test-optional?
No. California Lutheran University requires SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants for the 2026 cycle.
What does California Lutheran University look for in an application?
California Lutheran University reports that it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, recommendations most heavily. Anything it lists as not considered is worth knowing too, because effort spent there does not count here.
How much does California Lutheran University actually cost?
Sticker price is $68,426, but the average family pays $30,109 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $22,161 per year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the California Lutheran University read in your plan.
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