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California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA
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California Lutheran University

Photo: California Lutheran University. Retrieved from: www.callutheran.edu

California Lutheran University is in many ways a school with a collaboration of contrasting ideas. From the school website: “… A culture, based on the juxtaposition of faith and reason, is apparent not only in classrooms but also across the campus.”

School History

The private liberal arts college is a small school, with 2800 students co-existing alongside a full fledged University, and, although founded in 1959 by Evangelical Lutherans, California Lutheran is non-sectarian. CLU maintains a diverse student body from across the country and overseas, with nearly half of those students commuting to school, as opposed to living on campus. At the undergraduate level, where we will focus our attention, CLU’s published mission is “to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice.”

Campus life

The land for the 225 acre main campus was donated by the Pederson family, who were Scandinavian immigrants living in Thousand Oaks California, nine miles inland from Malibu, where the campus is located. Many of the buildings and local streets feature Scandinavian names in recognition of this. In addition, there is a yearly Scandinavian celebration that students enjoy – not quite what you would expect to find in southern California.

Campus housing is guaranteed for all undergraduate students, with thirteen residence halls; but, nearly half of students live off campus and commute to school. Many of these students are ‘local’ and live at home. Significantly, there is no Greek system, so you will find no fraternities or sororities, and there is no alcohol allowed on campus.

Artistic expression finds a variety of outlets on campus, including two art galleries, The Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture and the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art. These galleries serve a wide range of interests and patronage, and in the case of the William Rolland Gallery, serve several surrounding counties, such as Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

In addition, there are a wide variety of clubs and student organizations on campus to enhance student life. These include academic, cultural and athletic options. In conjunction with these, there are a number of involvement and leadership opportunities, such as resident assistants and peer advisers that help ensure students can grow and develop into productive citizens.

Cal Lutheran has a strong athletic presence with 20 division III varsity sports teams. There are a number of major sports facilities on campus, which include a football stadium, a 96,000 sq. ft. athletic complex, and a large community pool.

Academics

California Lutheran University struggled with debt in its early years, and did not develop into the vibrant school that it is today until the 1970’s, making this a relatively modern school. Academically, CLU is ranked as ‘more selective,’ and enjoys a student/faculty ratio of 15 to 1. There was an acceptance rate of 44 percent in 2013.  Highlighting the juxtaposition that is Cal Lutheran, the curriculum “…embodies the intellectual legacy of the past, yet its chief aim is to prepare students to meet the challenges of the 21st century.” This is reflected by the fact that business, business management, and marketing are, by far, the most popular majors with the more traditional, social sciences and humanities lagging far behind.

The school encourages dialogue both in and out of the classroom and draws deeply on its student body diversity in order to achieve this. Additionally, there are required courses in Religion designed to broaden student’s cultural background.

Financial aid

Given the high cost of the college, 76% of students applied for need based financial aid.  In response to this, CLU offered a wide variety of scholarship and financial aid opportunities. California Lutheran University draws on an endowment of $61,000,000 in order to maintain this variety of aid for undergraduates.

For those attending Cal Lutheran for the first time, you can expect diversity in all its’ forms; from the curriculum to the unparalleled selection of student activities both on and off campus.  Head to L.A., or stay on campus and visit an art gallery, participate in a club or leadership opportunity, enjoy the athletic facilities, or just enjoy the diversity of your fellow students and the relationships that you make!

Rankings

2017 College Rankings
Best Colleges - Student HousingBest Colleges - Collaborative Environment

Overview

Despite college rankings and countless beautiful college websites, most students and families know very little about the actual student experience at particular schools. College websites, campus tours and conversations with high school guidance counselors provide very limited information.

The Voice of the Student Survey compares the responses of over 7,500 liberal arts college undergraduates on more than 40 questions about college life. As a result, we learned what “real life” looks like at individual schools.

Some of the best (and worst) performers in our research are surprising. Some are among the U.S. News & World Report’s top ranked liberal arts colleges in the country, while others are ranked much lower but provide a successful student experience.

Our Liberal Arts Insider members know exactly how these colleges compare.

We surveyed thousands of liberal arts students to help you get the real scoop about the student experience… the good, the bad and the ugly.

Campus Community Coach & Safety Sherpa

How safe, accepted, and comfortable students feel on their college campus is one of the largest influencing factors as to how satisfied they feel with their college experience. Having a tight-knit college community is the cornerstone of a successful college experience, as proven by our Voice of the Students survey.

We can compare what the college brochures advertise to what students are actually experiencing; sometimes the admissions representatives have no idea how students on their campus really feel. This “Community” section is a way to find out exactly what students think about their campus, in their own words. Here, we have data about student satisfaction, housing, social cliques, and student’s sense of safety.

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Academics Advisor

Without a doubt, academics are a major focus, if not the top priority, for many college students. Schools will often advertise their classrooms as collaborative, but we’ve found that students sometimes describe the academic environment as highly competitive. Are students helping each other with academic work or trying to get ahead? Do students spend every waking moment with their nose in a book?

We asked students both qualitative and quantitative questions to find out how the academics at this school challenge them, and contribute to their college experience. Find out directly from the students how they feel about academics, challenging or otherwise, at their school.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
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Social Life Navigator

In addition to academics, social life is integral to the campus experience, and it’s dictated by a few different elements. Do students feel discriminated against based on their identities? Where do students spend most of their time socializing? Do drugs and alcohol dominate the social scene? This is the kind of information that schools will NOT advertise.

So, to find truthful answers these to questions, we asked students for their perspectives. We looked into social aspects such as extracurricular involvement, opportunities in the local community, and alcohol/drug culture on this campus.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
Learn More

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