California Lutheran University vs North Central
California Lutheran University and North Central College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. California Lutheran University, nestled in the vibrant city of Thousand Oaks, California, boasts an acceptance rate of 75%, while North Central College, located in the charming town of Naperville, Illinois, maintains a slightly lower acceptance rate of 70%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with California Lutheran University excelling in the fields of Business, Communication, and Psychology, and North Central College gaining recognition for its strengths in Business, Education, and Nursing. While California Lutheran University's student body comprises 4,000 undergraduates, North Central College fosters a smaller community of 3,000 undergraduates. With graduation rates of 78% and 75% respectively, both universities prioritize student success and equip their graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in their chosen careers. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the unique characteristics of
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![]() California Lutheran University |
![]() North Central College |
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Overview |
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Location | Thousand Oaks, California | Naperville, Illinois |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 83.0% | 77.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | Methodism |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.9% | 68.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$50
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$25 |
SAT range | 1090 - 1290 | 1030 - 1230 |
ACT range | 23 - 28 | 22 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 17.0% | 43.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 5.0% | 17.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,041 | 4,551 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,311 | 3,113 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 492 | 512 |
Yield rate | 14.9% | 16.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $69,251 | $61,098 |
Average net price | $24,065 | $26,207 |
Tuition | $45,500 | $42,026 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,130
Meal plan:
$6,840
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Room/dormitory:
$7,998
Meal plan:
$3,890
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $30,924 |
100.0%
Average amount $28,670 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
53.0%
Average amount $5,462 |
60.0%
Average amount $5,156 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $23,023 |
25.0%
Average amount $6,992 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,592
Men 46.8% Women 53.2% |
2,404
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
Graduate students |
1,174
Men 38.3% Women 61.7% |
324
Men 29.3% Women 70.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 17.2% | 26.8% |
International students | 6.1% | 3.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 1,517 | 1,333 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Washington Hawaii Colorado Texas | Illinois Wisconsin Indiana Ohio Michigan |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 73.8% | 64.4% |
Dropout rate | 4.9% | 35.1% |
Transferred out | 20.8% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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