Can you get into California Lutheran University?
Thousand Oaks, CA · Private · 2,296 students Here’s the class that got in. See where your numbers land in it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
Here’s 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
Optional
14% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
72%
within six years
Common App
Accepted
Reported by the college
What does California Lutheran University actually read?
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It’s the most useful thing they say about admissions. Almost nobody reads it. Say the essay counts a lot here and class rank doesn’t count at all. That tells you where to put your work.
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 doesn’t ask about extracurriculars, character, or demonstrated interest. Where a school publishes its Common Data Set, Spike uses that instead.
Deadlines · 2026 cycle
When should you apply?
- Early ActionNovember 15, 2026
- Regular DecisionJanuary 15, 2027
California Lutheran University fills part of its class in the early round. Admit rates there typically run higher. Early Decision is binding. It only fits a clear first choice.
Real cost · 2024 data
What do families actually pay?
The sticker price is $68,426. Almost nobody pays it. Here’s what families pay at California Lutheran University by 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 a year for first-time students who got aid. Your own number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
Keep reading about California Lutheran University.
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
What do students ask about California Lutheran University?
What’s 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 your application has to do more of the work, or you can apply test-optional.
Is California Lutheran University test-optional?
Yes, California Lutheran University is currently test-optional. Send a score if it lands in or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does California Lutheran University look for in an application?
California Lutheran University says it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, recommendations most heavily. What it lists as not considered is worth knowing too. Work you put there doesn’t count here.
How much does California Lutheran University actually cost?
The sticker price is $68,426. The average family pays $30,109 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $22,161 a year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the California Lutheran University read in your plan.
Spike ties your numbers to your courses, testing, essays, and activities. It does the same for the rest of your college list.
The full counselor launches in November.