California Lutheran University (Cal Lutheran), established in 1959 in Thousand Oaks, California, is a private, church-affiliated liberal arts university known for its diverse academic offerings and inclusive community. The university provides over 40 undergraduate majors and a wide range of graduate and doctoral programs across its various schools, maintaining a student-faculty ratio of 14:1.
As of 2023, Cal Lutheran enrolls around 3,400 students from 40 states and 67 countries, with 40.5% identifying as Hispanic or Latino, supporting its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. With a 88.9% acceptance rate, tuition at Cal Lutheran was $49,880 in 2023, and most students receive financial aid.
The university offers a vibrant campus life with over 70 student organizations and competes in NCAA Division III athletics. Cal Lutheran is fully accredited and has achieved key milestones, including the addition of doctoral programs and the integration of the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.
Category | Details |
---|---|
Founded | 1959 |
Type | Private, Church-Affiliated, Liberal Arts |
Location | Thousand Oaks, California |
Campus Size | 290 acres |
Enrollment (2023) | 3,413 total (2,297 undergraduates, 1,054 graduates) |
Student-Faculty Ratio | 14:1 |
Average Class Size | 14 students |
Popular Majors | Business, Psychology, Biology, Exercise Science, Criminology |
Graduate Programs | Education, Psychology, Business, Economics, IT, Theology |
Acceptance Rate | 88.9% |
Undergraduate Tuition (2023) | $49,880 |
Financial Aid | 72% of students receive aid |
Diversity | 40.5% Hispanic/Latino, 35.5% White, others |
Hispanic-Serving Institution | Designated in 2016 |
Athletics | NCAA Division III (Kingsmen & Regals) |
Student Organizations | 70+ active clubs and groups |
Accreditation | WASC, APA, ACBSP, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
Key Milestones | First doctoral degrees (2006), Seminary integration (2014) |
California Lutheran University: A Comprehensive Overview
California Lutheran University (Cal Lutheran), founded in 1959, is a private, church-affiliated liberal arts institution nestled in the Conejo Valley, approximately 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Located on a 290-acre campus in Thousand Oaks, California, Cal Lutheran has evolved from its origins as California Lutheran College in 1961 to a comprehensive university in 1986.
Academics and Programs: Cal Lutheran offers a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through its College of Arts and Sciences, School of Management, Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Psychology, School for Professional and Continuing Studies, and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. The university boasts 44 majors and 45 minors in its traditional undergraduate program. Popular undergraduate majors include Business Administration, Psychology, Biology, Exercise Science, and Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Graduate programs extend to doctorates in educational leadership, higher education leadership, clinical psychology, and theology, alongside master’s degrees in various fields such as education, psychology, business, economics, information technology, public policy and administration, and divinity. The average class size across all programs is 14, contributing to a 14:1 student-faculty ratio. Approximately 88% of full-time faculty hold a doctorate or terminal degree.
Enrollment and Student Body: As of 2023, California Lutheran University’s total enrollment was 3,413 students, with 2,297 undergraduates and 1,054 graduate students. A significant majority, 93.5%, are enrolled full-time. The student body is diverse, with students hailing from 40 states and 67 countries. Of traditional undergraduate students, 48% live on campus.
Demographically, the student population in 2023 was approximately 40.5% Hispanic or Latino, 35.5% White, 5.45% Two or More Races, 4.83% Asian, 3.37% Black or African American, 0.381% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0879% American Indian or Alaska Native. The university was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education in 2016.
Admissions and Financials: California Lutheran University has an acceptance rate of 88.9%. In 2023, the undergraduate tuition was $49,880. The university’s endowment was valued at approximately $134 million at the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Seventy-two percent of students receive financial aid.
Campus Life and Athletics: Campus life at Cal Lutheran is vibrant, with over 70 active student clubs and organizations. The university is part of NCAA Division III, with men’s teams competing as the Kingsmen and women’s teams as the Regals. Sports offered include baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and lacrosse for women.
Accreditation and Milestones: Cal Lutheran is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Various graduate programs hold specific accreditations from bodies such as the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the American Psychological Association, and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Key milestones in the university’s history include:
- 1959: California Lutheran College founded.
- 1961: First students arrive.
- 1964: First class graduates.
- 1972: First master’s degrees granted.
- 1986: Renamed California Lutheran University.
- 1994: KCLU Radio launched as a community service.
- 2006: First doctoral degrees granted.
- 2014: Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary welcomed.
- 2016: Designated Hispanic-Serving Institution.
FAQs about California Lutheran University
What is California Lutheran University?
California Lutheran University is a private, church-affiliated liberal arts institution located in Thousand Oaks, California, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.
Where is California Lutheran University located?
The university is situated on a 290-acre campus in Thousand Oaks, California, approximately 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
When was California Lutheran University founded?
California Lutheran University was founded in 1959 and welcomed its first students in 1961.
What is the student enrollment at California Lutheran University?
As of 2023, the university enrolls approximately 3,413 students, including 2,297 undergraduates and 1,054 graduate students.
What is the student-faculty ratio at California Lutheran University?
The student-faculty ratio at Cal Lutheran is 14:1, with an average class size of 14 students.
What are the most popular majors at California Lutheran University?
Popular undergraduate majors include Business Administration, Psychology, Biology, Exercise Science, and Criminology and Criminal Justice.
What graduate programs are offered at California Lutheran University?
Cal Lutheran offers master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as education, psychology, business, economics, information technology, public policy, and theology.
Is California Lutheran University a Hispanic-Serving Institution?
Yes, Cal Lutheran was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education in 2016.
What is the acceptance rate at California Lutheran University?
The university has an acceptance rate of 88.9%.
How much is the tuition at California Lutheran University?
Undergraduate tuition was $49,880 for the 2023 academic year.
Does California Lutheran University offer financial aid?
Yes, 72% of students at Cal Lutheran receive some form of financial aid.
What is campus life like at California Lutheran University?
Campus life is vibrant with over 70 student clubs and organizations, providing many opportunities for involvement and leadership.
What athletic division is California Lutheran University part of?
Cal Lutheran competes in NCAA Division III athletics.
What are the sports teams called at California Lutheran University?
The men’s teams are known as the Kingsmen and the women’s teams are called the Regals.
What sports are offered at California Lutheran University?
Sports include baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and women’s lacrosse.
What is the demographic breakdown of California Lutheran University’s student body?
In 2023, the student body was approximately 40.5% Hispanic or Latino, 35.5% White, 5.45% Two or More Races, 4.83% Asian, 3.37% Black or African American, 0.381% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0879% American Indian or Alaska Native.
What is California Lutheran University’s accreditation status?
The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), with specialized accreditations from bodies like the American Psychological Association and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
What key milestones has California Lutheran University achieved?
Major milestones include awarding its first master’s degrees in 1972, becoming a university in 1986, launching KCLU Radio in 1994, granting its first doctoral degrees in 2006, and integrating the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in 2014.
Does California Lutheran University have on-campus housing?
Yes, about 48% of traditional undergraduate students live on campus.
What is the size of California Lutheran University’s endowment?
As of the end of the 2023 fiscal year, the university’s endowment was approximately $134 million.
What types of degrees does California Lutheran University offer?
The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across various disciplines.
How diverse is the student population at California Lutheran University?
The university has a diverse student body with representation from 40 states and 67 countries.
What schools and colleges are part of California Lutheran University?
Cal Lutheran includes the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Management, Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Psychology, School for Professional and Continuing Studies, and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.
What is the history behind the university’s name?
Originally known as California Lutheran College, it was renamed California Lutheran University in 1986.
What community services are offered by California Lutheran University?
The university launched KCLU Radio in 1994 as a public service station for the surrounding community.
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