California Lutheran University vs. CSU

Should I go to California Lutheran University or California State University Chico? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if California Lutheran University or CSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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California Lutheran University vs. California State University Chico comparison
California Lutheran University California State University Chico College 3 College 4
California Lutheran University California State University Chico
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Overview

 California Lutheran University CSU
Location Thousand Oaks, CA Chico, CA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 3,615 14,183
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #347 #659
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website callutheran.edu csuchico.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 California Lutheran University CSU
Tuition (In State) $47,500 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $47,500 $17,622
Room & Board $15,490 $15,212
Avg Net Price $30,416 $15,517
Avg Grant Aid $30,597 $9,162
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 62%

Admission

 California Lutheran University CSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,150 21,417
Admitted 4,490 20,347
Acceptance Rate 87.2% 95%
Enrolled % 13.4% 9.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.37
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/30 18/24
SAT Range 1150/1320 970/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Dec 15, 2024

Academics

 California Lutheran University CSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

 California Lutheran University CSU
Graduation Rate 64% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,900 $52,400
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $17,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $175

Diversity

 California Lutheran University CSU
% Men 43% 45%
% Women 57% 55%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 46%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 27% 29%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

 California Lutheran University CSU
% In-State 80% 97%
% Out-of-State 17% 2%

Campus

 California Lutheran University CSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Chico is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (14,183 students vs. 3,615 students)

California Lutheran University vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or CSU?

  • California Lutheran University is 727.2% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($47,500.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 169.5% higher at California Lutheran University than California State University Chico ($47,500.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than California Lutheran University ($15,517 vs. $30,416)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 1.8% lower than costs at California Lutheran University ($15,212 vs. $15,490)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than California State University Chico (99% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 234% larger than aid received California State University Chico ($30,597 vs. $9,162)

California Lutheran University vs. CSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California Lutheran University or CSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSU or California Lutheran University .

  • The average SAT score at California Lutheran University (1109) is 106 points higher than at CSU (1003)
  • Incoming California Lutheran University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at CSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman California Lutheran University students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at CSU (3.37)
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than California Lutheran University (87.2%)

California Lutheran University vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, California Lutheran University or CSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CSU and California Lutheran University.

  • The graduation rate at California Lutheran University is higher than California State University Chico (64% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from California Lutheran University earn on average $5,500 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($57,900 vs. $52,400)
  • California State University Chico students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than California Lutheran University graduates. ($17,000 vs. $23,000)
  • CSU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than California Lutheran University graduates. ($175 vs. $237)
  • More California Lutheran University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/