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Thousand Oaks, CA · Costa Mesa, CA
| California Lutheran University | Vanguard University of Southern California | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $30,109/yr | $21,241/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $22,161/yr | $17,225/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,669 | $22,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $23,668/yr | $18,462/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $24,318/yr | $18,976/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $29,303/yr | $24,117/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $38,364/yr | $27,684/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $230/mo | $233/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $16,810/yr | $13,450/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $22,086/yr | $22,080/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $934/yr | $1,060/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,512/yr | $4,235/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $68,426/yr | $52,665/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $52,560/yr | $41,700/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $52,560/yr | $41,700/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 31% | 44% |
| Students taking federal loans | 50% | 57% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 76% | 62% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1150–1330 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1266 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 24–31 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 24–30 · Math 22–26 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 5,290 | 3,422 |
| Students accepted | 4,702 | 2,214 |
| Students who enrolled | 575 | 502 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 12% | 23% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 13% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 2% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 70% | 57% |
| Freshmen who come back | 79% | 70% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $68,712/yr | $59,541/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $44,592–$96,084 | $33,700–$85,469 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 76% | 62% |
| White students graduating | 70% | 58% |
| Black students graduating | 50% | 32% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 74% | 58% |
| Asian students graduating | 81% | 64% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $54,981/yr | $43,464/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 82% | 69% |
| Graduate on time | 62% | 52% |
| Pell students who graduate | 70% | 55% |
| First-gen students who finish | 65% | 47% |
| Low-income students who finish | 58% | 41% |
| Students who transfer out | 27% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $64,258/yr | $54,755/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Psychology 13% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Psychology 17% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 12% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Psychology — 13% of degrees | Psychology — 17% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 11% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Social Sciences — 10% of degrees | Health Professions — 11% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 9% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $107,188/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $102,915/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 17% | 9.3% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,296 | 1,933 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,054 | 286 |
| Average professor pay | $10,794/mo | $9,494/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Median family income | $56,619 | $42,880 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Thousand Oaks, CA | Costa Mesa, CA |
| Region | Far West | Far West |
| Founded | 1959 | 1920 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.6% | 0.3% |
| Men | 45% | 33% |
| Women | 55% | 67% |
| White students | 36% | 31% |
| Black students | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 41% | 47% |
| Asian students | 5.5% | 3.9% |
| Two or more races | 6.5% | 2.2% |
| Other / not reported | 3% | 11% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 35% | 36% |
| Part-time students | 2.1% | 11% |
| Students age 25+ | 7.4% | 9.3% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $12,168/yr | $8,587/yr |
| Endowment | $145.0M | $18.3M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,517 | 1,020 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $8,740/yr | $7,476/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,470/yr | $5,930/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | No data reported | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Assemblies of God Church |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division II without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 22 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 581 | 416 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $2.9M |
| Athletics budget | $5.8M | $8.1M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.8M | $8.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $64,042 | $37,599 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.