,·private
California Lutheran University (Cal Lutheran) is a private Lutheran liberal arts university located in Thousand Oaks, California, founded in 1959 and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Cal Lutheran enrolls approximately 2,297 undergraduates and over 3,500 total students across the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Management. The university is ranked #16 among Regional Universities West by U.S. News & World Report and #10 for Best Value. Cal Lutheran is distinguished by its diverse international student community — approximately 4-5% of undergraduates come from 59 countries, with historically strong recruitment from Norway (owing to its Scandinavian Lutheran heritage) and significant representation from China, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and India. The 225-acre campus in Thousand Oaks offers a beautiful suburban setting in the Santa Monica Mountains foothills, approximately 35 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, providing students with access to the full LA metro career market while maintaining a small-campus community atmosphere. Cal Lutheran's athletics program is particularly strong within NCAA Division III — the baseball team won the Division III College World Series in 2017, and the volleyball program won the national championship in 2015. The 13:1 student-faculty ratio and emphasis on experiential learning make it a popular choice for students seeking a personalized education with LA-area career reach.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$54480
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $52,560
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
