California Lutheran University vs. Cal State Fullerton

Should I go to California Lutheran University or California State University Fullerton? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if California Lutheran University or Cal State Fullerton 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 Fullerton comparison
California Lutheran University California State University Fullerton College 3 College 4
California Lutheran University California State University Fullerton
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Overview

California Lutheran University Cal State Fullerton
Location Thousand Oaks, CA Fullerton, CA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 3,615 40,386
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #347 #699
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website callutheran.edu fullerton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

California Lutheran University Cal State Fullerton
Tuition (In State) $47,500 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $47,500 $17,622
Room & Board $15,490 $16,702
Avg Net Price $30,416 $7,925
Avg Grant Aid $30,597 $9,194
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 74%

Admission

California Lutheran University Cal State Fullerton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,150 48,748
Admitted 4,490 32,527
Acceptance Rate 87.2% 66.7%
Enrolled % 13.4% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.77
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/30 18/23
SAT Range 1150/1320 1000/1180
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 Nov 30, 2024

Academics

California Lutheran University Cal State Fullerton
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 24:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

California Lutheran University Cal State Fullerton
Graduation Rate 64% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,900 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $155

Diversity

California Lutheran University Cal State Fullerton
% Men 43% 42%
% Women 57% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 22%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 27% 40%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 4% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

California Lutheran University Cal State Fullerton
% In-State 80% 99%
% Out-of-State 17% 1%

Campus

California Lutheran University Cal State Fullerton
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 Fullerton is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (40,386 students vs. 3,615 students)

California Lutheran University vs. Cal State Fullerton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or Cal State Fullerton?

  • California Lutheran University is 727.2% more expensive to attend than Cal State Fullerton 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 Fullerton ($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 Fullerton than California Lutheran University ($7,925 vs. $30,416)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Lutheran University are 7.8% lower than costs at California State University Fullerton ($15,490 vs. $16,702)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than California State University Fullerton (99% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 232.8% larger than aid received California State University Fullerton ($30,597 vs. $9,194)

California Lutheran University vs. Cal State Fullerton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Lutheran University (1109) is 85 points higher than at Cal State Fullerton (1024)
  • Incoming California Lutheran University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Cal State Fullerton (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at California Lutheran University (3.73)
  • California Lutheran University has a higher acceptance rate (87.2%) than Cal State Fullerton (66.7%)

California Lutheran University vs. Cal State Fullerton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, California Lutheran University or Cal State Fullerton? 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 Cal State Fullerton and California Lutheran University.

  • The graduation rate at California Lutheran University is higher than California State University Fullerton (64% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from California Lutheran University earn on average $8,900 more per year than Cal State Fullerton graduates after ten years. ($57,900 vs. $49,000)
  • California State University Fullerton students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than California Lutheran University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $23,000)
  • Cal State Fullerton graduates are paying $82 less per month on federal student loans than California Lutheran University graduates. ($155 vs. $237)
  • More California Lutheran University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Fullerton students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 69%)

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