California Lutheran University

If you are thinking about applying to California Lutheran University, the regular decision application deadline is January 1 and the fee for the application is $25.

Students who apply to California Lutheran University for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

California Lutheran University Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of California Lutheran University's admissions stats.

California Lutheran University 2022	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.7
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	21%
Mean SAT Score	1190
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	17%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	5%
Waitlist	Yes

California Lutheran University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for California Lutheran University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	Info Not Available	––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	Yes	November 1	January 15
Regular Decision	Yes	January 1	April 1

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Considering Applying Early to California Lutheran University?

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California Lutheran University offers early decision and also offers early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. California Lutheran University will release EA admissions decisions no later than January 15.

The early decision acceptance rate at California Lutheran University is 89%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 82%. In 2022, California Lutheran University admitted 1836 of the 2071 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply to college early to help their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of admission, since it shows that you are very interested in a school.

➡️ Explore a list of some top colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on California Lutheran University Admissions

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For applicants who are non-residents, getting into California Lutheran University is moderately difficult.

Transferring to California Lutheran University

It is moderately difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to California Lutheran University

In 2022, California Lutheran University waitlisted 54 students and 38 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 38 eventually received an admissions offer.

What's Most Important for Getting Into California Lutheran University?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the areas where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at California Lutheran University

Wondering what factors are considered by California Lutheran University during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Geographical Residence	Important
Class Rank	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
First Generation	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Religious Affiliation/Commitment	Considered
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with California Lutheran University for more information on admission factors.

California Lutheran University Application Requirements

To apply to California Lutheran University, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with California Lutheran University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview		√
Letter(s) of Recommendation	1
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Transcript of High School Record	√
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	2.75	3

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into California Lutheran University?

Students admitted to California Lutheran University have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

Out of all students that were admitted, 43% submitted a class rank. At California Lutheran University 21% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 55% were in the top 25% and 94% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At California Lutheran University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	29%
3.75 and 3.99	20%
3.50 and 3.74	23%
3.25 and 3.49	16%
3.00 and 3.24	9%
2.50 and 2.9	3%
2.00 and 2.49	––

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to California Lutheran University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

California Lutheran University looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

California Lutheran University is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 17% of California Lutheran University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 5% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for California Lutheran University?

To be competitive with other California Lutheran University applicants, you should strive to earn between 1100 and 1280 (or higher!) on the SAT. At California Lutheran University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1280 and 25% of scored lower than 1100, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a California Lutheran University student is 1190.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of California Lutheran University students scored 650 or higher and 75% of students scored 550 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of California Lutheran University students scored 640 or higher, and 75% scored a 550 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for California Lutheran University?

To be most competitive at California Lutheran University, you should strive to earn between 23 and 28 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 28 means you fall in the 75th percentile for California Lutheran University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 28, and three out of four students scored lower than 28 on the ACT.

A 23 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for California Lutheran University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 23.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to California Lutheran University

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to California Lutheran University.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is June 1. Applicants should hear back by April 1.

Transfer students can enroll in California Lutheran University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

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California Lutheran University Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to California Lutheran University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to California Lutheran University.

Does California Lutheran University accept transfer credits?

✅ California Lutheran University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. California Lutheran University accepts:

• CLEP subject tests

Does California Lutheran University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ California Lutheran University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to California Lutheran University?

❌ No, California Lutheran University is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If you have higher than average scores, you may want to send them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is California Lutheran University's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for California Lutheran University is 82%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at California Lutheran University?

✅ California Lutheran University's early decision acceptance rate was 89% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About California Lutheran University?

To learn more about California Lutheran University, choose from the options below:

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