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California Lutheran University: Barbara collins arboretum clu university
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College · Catholic life on campus

California Lutheran University

  • LocationThousand Oaks, CA
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,413 students

Affiliation: Evangelical Lutheran Church

California Lutheran University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

California Lutheran University is a church-related university. Its Campus Ministry offers worship, a weekly student gathering, and the Wennes Interfaith Meditation Chapel, which is open to students of all faiths. The university's local worship page lists two Catholic parishes in the area.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of California Lutheran University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Paschal Baylon Church: 1.8 mi1California Lutheran University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Paschal Baylon Church — 1.8 mi · 154 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
75 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.70%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.79%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,266 · ACT 27.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$12,168

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division III · Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
SettingCity
ROTCArmy · Air Force
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member13 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
2,380
Total students3,413
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$30,109
Cost of attendance (per year)$68,426
Median federal debt at graduation$21,669
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
70%
First-year retention79%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$68,712
Admission rate76%
Students receiving Pell grants31%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1150–1330ACT 24–31
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1266
SAT reading & writing590–670
SAT math560–660
ACT composite24–31
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 58 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

The Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: lacatholics.org, lacatholics.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 110413
  • Carnegie classification: Master's university (larger programs)
  • Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is California Lutheran University a Catholic college?
No. California Lutheran University is not a Catholic college. Its listed religious affiliation is Evangelical Lutheran Church. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.

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