California Lutheran University vs. Hope College

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

California Lutheran University Hope College
Location Thousand Oaks, CA Holland, MI
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 3,413 3,368
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #359 #271
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website callutheran.edu hope.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

California Lutheran University Hope College
Tuition (In State) $49,880 $39,990
Tuition (Out of State) $49,880 $39,990
Room & Board $17,734 $12,180
Avg Net Price $27,080 $28,643
Avg Grant Aid $36,687 $23,633
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

California Lutheran University Hope College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,290 5,206
Admitted 4,702 3,949
Acceptance Rate 88.9% 75.9%
Enrolled % 12.2% 21.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.83
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 26/31
SAT Range 1134/1320 1090/1310
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

Academics

California Lutheran University Hope College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Physical Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

California Lutheran University Hope College
Graduation Rate 64% 79%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,900 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $279

Diversity

California Lutheran University Hope College
% Men 10% 1%
% Women 20% 1%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 49% 84%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 27% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

California Lutheran University Hope College
% In-State 80% 68%
% Out-of-State 16% 32%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California Lutheran University is larger than than Hope College based on total student enrollment (3,413 students vs. 3,368 students)

California Lutheran University vs. Hope College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or Hope College?

  • California Lutheran University is 24.7% more expensive to attend than Hope College for in-state tuition ($49,880.00 vs. $39,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.7% higher at California Lutheran University than Hope College ($49,880.00 vs. $39,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Lutheran University than Hope College ($27,080 vs. $28,643)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope College are 45.6% lower than costs at California Lutheran University ($12,180 vs. $17,734)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than Hope College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 55.2% larger than aid received Hope College ($36,687 vs. $23,633)

California Lutheran University vs. Hope College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Hope College (1205) is 96 points higher than at California Lutheran University (1109)
  • Incoming Hope College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at California Lutheran University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at California Lutheran University (3.73)
  • California Lutheran University has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Hope College (75.9%)

California Lutheran University vs. Hope College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, California Lutheran University or Hope College? 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 Hope College and California Lutheran University.

  • The graduation rate at Hope College is higher than California Lutheran University (79% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from California Lutheran University earn on average $10,400 more per year than Hope College graduates after ten years. ($57,900 vs. $47,500)
  • California Lutheran University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Hope College graduates. ($23,000 vs. $27,000)
  • California Lutheran University graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than Hope College graduates. ($237 vs. $279)
  • More Hope College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California Lutheran University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 70%)

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