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San Francisco State CSU Humboldt State University CSUMB Sacramento State UC Merced San Jose State University of Redlands Cal State East Bay Cal State Fullerton San Diego State Azusa Pacific University| California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | ||
| Location | Thousand Oaks, CA | Rohnert Park, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,413 | 5,990 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #359 | #625 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | callutheran.edu | sonoma.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,880 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,880 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,734 | $15,770 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,080 | $15,113 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,687 | $8,546 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 83% |
Admission |
California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,290 | 10,529 | ||
| Admitted | 4,702 | 9,974 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.9% | 94.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.2% | 9.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1134/1320 | 950/1150 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 57% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,900 | $49,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $17,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $180 |
Diversity |
California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 20% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 49% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 29% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 7% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 7% |
Students |
California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 2% | ||
Campus |
California Lutheran University | Sonoma State University | ||
| 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
- Sonoma State University is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (5,990 students vs. 3,413 students)
California Lutheran University vs. Sonoma State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or Sonoma State University?
- California Lutheran University is 768.7% more expensive to attend than Sonoma State University for in-state tuition ($49,880.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 183.1% higher at California Lutheran University than Sonoma State University ($49,880.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sonoma State University than California Lutheran University ($15,113 vs. $27,080)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sonoma State University are 12.5% lower than costs at California Lutheran University ($15,770 vs. $17,734)
- More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than Sonoma State University (100% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 329.3% larger than aid received Sonoma State University ($36,687 vs. $8,546)
California Lutheran University vs. Sonoma State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, California Lutheran University or Sonoma State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sonoma State University or California Lutheran University .
- The average SAT score at California Lutheran University (1109) is 113 points higher than at Sonoma State University (996)
- Incoming California Lutheran University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Sonoma State University (22)
- Accepted freshman California Lutheran University students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Sonoma State University (3.4)
- Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than California Lutheran University (88.9%)
California Lutheran University vs. Sonoma State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, California Lutheran University or Sonoma State University? 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 Sonoma State University and California Lutheran University.
- The graduation rate at California Lutheran University is higher than Sonoma State University (64% vs. 57%)
- Graduates from California Lutheran University earn on average $8,600 more per year than Sonoma State University graduates after ten years. ($57,900 vs. $49,300)
- Sonoma State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than California Lutheran University graduates. ($17,500 vs. $23,000)
- Sonoma State University graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than California Lutheran University graduates. ($180 vs. $237)
- More California Lutheran University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sonoma State University 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/