California Lutheran vs Messiah
Side by side: Mass and confession times, faith grades, academics, cost after aid and outcomes.
California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CACatholic life on campusMessiah UniversityMechanicsburg, PACatholic life on campus
At a glance
- Messiah has the higher graduation rate: 75% against 70% at California Lutheran.
- For families earning $48,001 to $75,000, Messiah has the lower price after aid: $20,916 a year, against $24,318 at California Lutheran.
- The average price after aid is lower at Messiah: $26,502 a year, against $30,109 at California Lutheran.
- Median earnings ten years after entry are higher at California Lutheran: $68,712, against $54,064 at Messiah.
Catholic life
Campus ministry
1 listed
The college
Control
Private nonprofit
Private nonprofit
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA
Mechanicsburg, PA
Setting
City
Suburb
Students
3,413
3,344
Academics
Academic Excellence grade
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.
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.
Admission rate
76%
79%
Average SAT
1266
1236
ACT middle 50%
24–31
26–31
Graduation rate
70%
75%
First-year retention
79%
89%
Cost and outcomes
Average net price a year
$30,109
$26,502
Net price, up to $30,000 income
$22,161
$19,393
Net price, $30,001–$48,000 income
$23,668
$20,317
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income
$24,318
$20,916
Net price, $75,001–$110,000 income
$29,303
$23,574
Net price, over $110,000 income
$38,364
$31,847
Median debt
$21,669
$25,621
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$68,712
$54,064
The grades and the Compass Score are Catholic School Compass ratings from documented sources; each college’s page lists its sources. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This page does not rank the two colleges.