California Lutheran University vs. SCU

Should I go to California Lutheran University or Santa Clara University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if California Lutheran University or SCU 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. Santa Clara University comparison
California Lutheran University Santa Clara University College 3 College 4
California Lutheran University Santa Clara University
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Overview

 California Lutheran University SCU
Location Thousand Oaks, CA Santa Clara, CA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 3,615 9,178
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #347 #62
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website callutheran.edu scu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 California Lutheran University SCU
Tuition (In State) $47,500 $56,880
Tuition (Out of State) $47,500 $56,880
Room & Board $15,490 $17,112
Avg Net Price $30,416 $50,551
Avg Grant Aid $30,597 $25,295
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 72%

Admission

 California Lutheran University SCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,150 16,650
Admitted 4,490 8,677
Acceptance Rate 87.2% 52.1%
Enrolled % 13.4% 18.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/30 29/33
SAT Range 1150/1320 1290/1480
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, 2025 Jan 7, 2025

Academics

 California Lutheran University SCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

 California Lutheran University SCU
Graduation Rate 64% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,900 $81,900
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $237 $222

Diversity

 California Lutheran University SCU
% Men 43% 50%
% Women 57% 50%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 49%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 27% 17%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

 California Lutheran University SCU
% In-State 80% 50%
% Out-of-State 17% 40%

Campus

 California Lutheran University SCU
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

  • Santa Clara University is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (9,178 students vs. 3,615 students)

California Lutheran University vs. SCU Cost Comparison

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

  • Santa Clara University is 19.7% more expensive to attend than California Lutheran University for in-state tuition ($56,880.00 vs. $47,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.7% higher at SCU than California Lutheran University ($56,880.00 vs. $47,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Lutheran University than SCU ($30,416 vs. $50,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Lutheran University are 10.5% lower than costs at Santa Clara University ($15,490 vs. $17,112)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than Santa Clara University (99% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 21% larger than aid received Santa Clara University ($30,597 vs. $25,295)

California Lutheran University vs. SCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Santa Clara University (1313) is 204 points higher than at California Lutheran University (1109)
  • Incoming SCU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at California Lutheran University (25)
  • Accepted freshman California Lutheran University students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at SCU (3.67)
  • California Lutheran University has a higher acceptance rate (87.2%) than SCU (52.1%)

California Lutheran University vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SCU is higher than California Lutheran University (85% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn on average $24,000 more per year than California Lutheran University graduates after ten years. ($81,900 vs. $57,900)
  • Santa Clara University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than California Lutheran University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,000)
  • SCU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than California Lutheran University graduates. ($222 vs. $237)
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California Lutheran University students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 70%)

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