California Lutheran University vs Colby College
California Lutheran University and Colby 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 Colby College, located in the picturesque town of Waterville, Maine, maintains a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 13%. Both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs, with California Lutheran University excelling in popular majors like Business, Communication, and Psychology, and Colby College excelling in majors like Economics, Government, and Biology. California Lutheran University's student body is predominantly composed of undergraduates, while Colby College has a significant graduate student population. With graduation rates of 79% and 93% respectively, both universities prioritize student success and provide ample resources to support their students' academic journeys. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the unique characteristics of each institution and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() California Lutheran University |
![]() Colby College |
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Overview |
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Location | Thousand Oaks, California | Waterville, Maine |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 83.0% | 95.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.9% | 8.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1090 - 1290 | 1400 - 1530 |
ACT range | 23 - 28 | 32 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 17.0% | 40.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 5.0% | 28.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,041 | 15,857 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,311 | 1,407 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 492 | 667 |
Yield rate | 14.9% | 47.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $69,251 | $68,825 |
Average net price | $24,065 | $17,912 |
Tuition | $45,500 | $58,640 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,130
Meal plan:
$6,840
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Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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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 |
39.0%
Average amount $58,513 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
53.0%
Average amount $5,462 |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $23,023 |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,592
Men 46.8% Women 53.2% |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
Graduate students |
1,174
Men 38.3% Women 61.7% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 17.2% | N/A |
International students | 6.1% | 9.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 1,517 | 2,242 |
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 | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 73.8% | 86.6% |
Dropout rate | 4.9% | 5.7% |
Transferred out | 20.8% | 7.5% |
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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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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