California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, California · Private Nonprofit · 75.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 71/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California Lutheran University (Cal Lutheran) scores 71 (Fair Value). Median debt of $21,669 is notably low for a $52,560 sticker institution, reflecting Cal Lutheran's aid generosity. The 76.9% three-year repayment rate is adequate. Cal Lutheran is small (2,296 students) in Thousand Oaks, CA, with 75.7% admission and SAT mid-ranges of 560-660 Math and 590-670 Reading. Accounting (28 graduates, B+, $72,696 year-one) and Computer Science (26 graduates, B, $68,398 year-one) are the strongest programs. Business Administration (147 graduates, B, $55,234 year-one) is the dominant program.
California Lutheran University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $52,560/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $52,560/yr |
| Average net price | $30,109/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $120,436 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,712 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,669 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $230 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 69.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,296 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $52,560/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $30,109/year, or roughly $120,436 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $22,161/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $38,364/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,669, which works out to about $230 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,700) and comes to 0.50, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,161 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,668 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,318 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,303 |
| $110,001+ | $38,364 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $22,161 per year at Cal Lutheran. Over four years, roughly $88,000. Against $43,700 average earnings and a 7.7-year payback, the financial case is workable for accounting, CS, and business students. For arts, social sciences, or general liberal arts at $22k per year, the value case is thin. Cal Lutheran serves lower-income students with moderate but not exceptional grant support relative to the $52,560 sticker.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $24,318; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $29,303. The aid taper is significant in the upper-middle range. At $29k per year for a 7.7-year payback school with decent outcomes in business and accounting, middle-income families in the Ventura County area may find regional value that offsets the cost of private pricing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $38,364 per year. At $153,000 over four years, Cal Lutheran requires strong program selection to justify. Accounting and CS graduates at full pay have an arguable case given the LA market access and low debt levels for other students.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California Lutheran University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $76,916 | B |
| Psychology | $59,153 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $59,820 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $31,963 | C+ |
| Biology | $64,939 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $61,653 | C |
| International Relations | $60,243 | C |
| Accounting | $89,573 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $77,030 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $60,806 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting (28 graduates) earns $72,696 year-one and $89,573 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.301 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $21,858. Accounting in the LA/Ventura County market is robust - Big Four firms, regional firms, and corporate finance roles provide strong entry-level demand.
Computer Science
Computer Science (26 graduates) earns $68,398 year-one and $77,030 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.373 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $25,500.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (147 graduates - Cal Lutheran's largest program) earns $55,234 year-one and $76,916 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.421 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $23,250. The four-year trajectory to $77k reflects the typical progression for business generalists in the LA/Ventura corridor.
Psychology
Psychology (100 graduates) earns $30,918 year-one and $59,153 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.809 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $25,000 against $30,918 starting is strained. D grade is appropriate: year-one earnings do not cover debt serviceably without additional credentials. The four-year figure of $59k reflects career growth for graduates who pursue clinical training or corporate HR roles.
Music
Music (24 graduates) earns $20,650 year-one and $32,316 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 1.258 (ROI grade F). Median debt of $25,980. The F grade reflects a year-one to debt relationship that is fundamentally unfavorable. Music performance and composition careers produce highly variable earnings; the Scorecard median captures a difficult early career. Cal Lutheran's music program may offer real artistic development, but the financial case does not hold at these outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California Lutheran University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-31 |
| Enrollment | 2,296 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,794 |
Cal Lutheran admits 75.7% of applicants. SAT 560-660 Math, 590-670 Reading, ACT 24-31. The 7.7-year payback and 69.6% completion rate represent the key financial risk metrics. Students in accounting, CS, or business at the average net price of $30,109 can construct a defensible financial case. Students in arts or social sciences at higher net prices face weaker justification.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Lutheran University (this school) | 71 | $30,109 | $68,712 |
| University of Mary | 76 | $17,770 | $60,909 |
| Saint Anselm College | 74 | $34,779 | $73,371 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Norwich University | 71 | $22,257 | $65,575 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Who Thrives Here
Cal Lutheran admits 75.7% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 560-660 Math and 590-670 Reading, ACT 24-31. At 2,296 students, it is a small private liberal arts university with a Lutheran identity but broad student body. The 31.1% Pell rate reflects moderate lower-income access. Students drawn to Cal Lutheran for its Ventura County campus and LA labor market access, small class sizes, and business-oriented programs find reasonable value. The low median debt ($21,669) relative to sticker is the most attractive financial feature - it reflects a school that discounts significantly from the $52,560 list price.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
California Lutheran University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $30,109 a year after aid ($120,436 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $68,712 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 69.6% graduation rate.
Median debt of $21,669 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California Lutheran University: Common Questions
Is California Lutheran University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether California Lutheran University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 71/100 on our ROI scale. At $30,109 a year after aid ($120,436 over four years) against $68,712 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does California Lutheran University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $30,109 a year, or roughly $120,436 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California Lutheran University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $68,712 ten years after enrolling, roughly $26,912 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California Lutheran University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.7 years for California Lutheran University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California Lutheran University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,669, against average earnings of $43,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California Lutheran University?
The six-year graduation rate is 69.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.