California Lutheran University
California Lutheran University's campus sits on 290 acres in Thousand Oaks, about an hour northwest of Los Angeles. The university maintains a close relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, though it operates in a nonsectarian manner. Cal Lutheran offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, with several satellite locations in Southern California. The university has a strong athletic tradition, particularly in football and baseball, with a history of players entering professional leagues or becoming coaches.
Financial Aid
The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. California Lutheran University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 30% of students receive Pell Grants; 78% take federal loans.
Average net price across income brackets is $23,129, roughly 54% lower than the published tuition.
Net Price by Family Income
Academic Year 2025| Income Bracket | Avg Net Price | 4-Year Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $30K | $17,414 | $69,656 |
| $30K – $48K | $18,518 | $74,072 |
| $48K – $75K | $23,759 | $95,036 |
| $75K – $110K | $23,547 | $94,188 |
| $110K+ | $32,409 | $129,636 |
| Sticker price (no aid) | $50,670 | $202,680 |
Programs at California Lutheran University
14 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Degree Program | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Compare across schools → |
71
|
$68,398/yr | Very High | 3.5x |
|
Accounting
Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools → |
68
|
$72,696/yr | Very High | 2.8x |
|
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools → |
62
|
$55,234/yr | High | 2.8x |
|
Management Science
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Compare across schools → |
59
|
$57,276/yr | Very High | 1.8x |
|
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools → |
49
|
$43,122/yr | Moderate | 2.3x |
|
Biology
Biology, General Compare across schools → |
37
|
$32,894/yr | High | 2.8x |
|
Political Science
Political Science and Government Compare across schools → |
35
|
$36,061/yr | Very High | 1.8x |
|
Health & Physical Education
Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools → |
31
|
$33,818/yr | Moderate | 1.8x |
| Criminology Compare across schools → |
31
|
$31,963/yr | High | 0.6x |
|
Psychology
Psychology, General Compare across schools → |
29
|
$30,918/yr | High | 2.1x |
| Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools → |
28
|
$37,249/yr | High | 1.6x |
|
Communication & Journalism (Other)
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other Compare across schools → |
27
|
$34,432/yr | Very High | 2.2x |
|
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Compare across schools → |
23
|
$34,989/yr | Low | 1.9x |
| Music Compare across schools → |
21
|
$20,650/yr | High | 0.0x |
More Colleges in California
Top-scored 4-year colleges and universities elsewhere in California, ranked by average DegreeOutlook Score across their programs.