California Lutheran University vs. HPU

Should I go to California Lutheran University or High Point University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if California Lutheran University or HPU 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. High Point University comparison
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California Lutheran University High Point University
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Overview

 California Lutheran University HPU
Location Thousand Oaks, CA High Point, NC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 3,413 6,052
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #359
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website callutheran.edu highpoint.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 California Lutheran University HPU
Tuition (In State) $49,880 $38,748
Tuition (Out of State) $49,880 $38,748
Room & Board $17,734 $18,462
Avg Net Price $27,080 $43,578
Avg Grant Aid $36,687 $18,149
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 89%

Admission

 California Lutheran University HPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,290 15,625
Admitted 4,702 12,004
Acceptance Rate 88.9% 76.8%
Enrolled % 12.2% 12.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 23/31
SAT Range 1134/1320 1110/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

 California Lutheran University HPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

 California Lutheran University HPU
Graduation Rate 64% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,900 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $22,421
Median Loan Payment $237 $231

Diversity

 California Lutheran University HPU
% Men 10% 6%
% Women 20% 11%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 49% 79%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 27% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 California Lutheran University HPU
% In-State 80% 24%
% Out-of-State 16% 75%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • High Point University is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (6,052 students vs. 3,413 students)

California Lutheran University vs. HPU Cost Comparison

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

  • California Lutheran University is 28.7% more expensive to attend than HPU for in-state tuition ($49,880.00 vs. $38,748.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.7% higher at California Lutheran University than High Point University ($49,880.00 vs. $38,748.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Lutheran University than HPU ($27,080 vs. $43,578)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Lutheran University are 4.1% lower than costs at High Point University ($17,734 vs. $18,462)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than High Point University (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 102.1% larger than aid received High Point University ($36,687 vs. $18,149)

California Lutheran University vs. HPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at High Point University (1113) is 4 points higher than at California Lutheran University (1109)
  • Incoming California Lutheran University students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at HPU (25)
  • Accepted freshman California Lutheran University students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at HPU (3.4)
  • California Lutheran University has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than HPU (76.8%)

California Lutheran University vs. HPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, California Lutheran University or HPU? 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 HPU and California Lutheran University.

  • Graduates from California Lutheran University earn on average $15,900 more per year than HPU graduates after ten years. ($57,900 vs. $42,000)
  • High Point University students graduate with a $579 lower median federal student loan debt than California Lutheran University graduates. ($22,421 vs. $23,000)
  • HPU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than California Lutheran University graduates. ($231 vs. $237)
  • More California Lutheran University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HPU 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/