LMU-LA vs California Lutheran University
Loyola Marymount University and California Lutheran University, both esteemed institutions in Southern California, offer distinct educational experiences. LMU, a Jesuit Catholic university, boasts a 53% acceptance rate, while CLU, a private Lutheran university, has a slightly higher acceptance rate of 60%. LMU's student body is more diverse, with 48% identifying as non-white compared to CLU's 38%. Both universities offer a range of popular majors, including business, psychology, and biology, but LMU has a stronger emphasis on the arts and humanities. LMU also has a higher graduation rate, with 82% of students completing their degrees within six years compared to CLU's 76%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() California Lutheran University |
![]() Loyola Marymount University |
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Overview |
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Location | Thousand Oaks, California | Los Angeles, California |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
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% | 90.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.9% | 45.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1090 - 1290 | 1250 - 1420 |
ACT range | 23 - 28 | 28 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 17.0% | 18.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 5.0% | 14.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,041 | 19,045 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,311 | 8,727 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 492 | 1,610 |
Yield rate | 14.9% | 18.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | 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 | $76,665 |
Average net price | $24,065 | $40,180 |
Tuition | $45,500 | $52,310 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,130
Meal plan:
$6,840
|
$16,474 |
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 $19,651 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
53.0%
Average amount $5,462 |
33.0%
Average amount $5,128 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $23,023 |
13.0%
Average amount $7,027 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,592
Men 46.8% Women 53.2% |
7,127
Men 46.5% Women 53.5% |
Graduate students |
1,174
Men 38.3% Women 61.7% |
3,057
Men 37.6% Women 62.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 17.2% | 37.2% |
International students | 6.1% | 9.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,517 | 3,685 |
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 | California Washington Illinois Colorado Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 73.8% | 78.8% |
Dropout rate | 4.9% | 20.8% |
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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Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education (Master's Degrees)
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