California Lutheran University Acceptance Rate
Thousand Oaks, California · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 5,290
- Admitted
- 4,702
- Yield
- 12.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, California Lutheran University's acceptance rate has risen from 61% in 2014–15 to 88.9% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 6,490 to 5,290 (-18%) over that period.
Its 88.9% rate makes California Lutheran University more selective than about 23% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 25%.
California Lutheran University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 12.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 6,490 | 3,957 | 61% | 556 |
| 2015–16 | 6,569 | 4,044 | 61.6% | 595 |
| 2016–17 | 6,013 | 3,860 | 64.2% | 638 |
| 2017–18 | 5,251 | 3,820 | 72.7% | 585 |
| 2018–19 | 5,752 | 4,111 | 71.5% | 681 |
| 2019–20 | 6,175 | 4,410 | 71.4% | 647 |
| 2020–21 | 5,568 | 4,142 | 74.4% | 516 |
| 2021–22 | 4,041 | 3,311 | 81.9% | 492 |
| 2022–23 | 5,150 | 4,490 | 87.2% | 602 |
| 2023–24 | 5,290 | 4,702 | 88.9% | 575 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 2,861 | 2,563 | 89.6% |
| Men | 2,420 | 2,139 | 88.4% |
| Another gender | 9 | 0 | 0% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 577–660 | 13% |
| SAT Math | 557–660 | |
| ACT Composite | 23–29 | 2% |
How California Lutheran University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is California Lutheran University's acceptance rate?
California Lutheran University's acceptance rate is 88.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (4,702 admitted of 5,290 applicants).
Is California Lutheran University test optional?
California Lutheran University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to California Lutheran University?
California Lutheran University received 5,290 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 4,702.
What SAT score do you need for California Lutheran University?
Admitted students at California Lutheran University typically scored 577–660 on SAT Reading/Writing and 557–660 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is California Lutheran University getting harder to get into?
California Lutheran University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 61% in 2014–15 to 88.9% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.callutheran.edu/.