California Lutheran University vs Whitman College
California Lutheran University and Whitman College, both 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 Whitman College, located in the picturesque town of Walla Walla, Washington, maintains a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 56%. California Lutheran University's student body is more diverse, with 48% identifying as students of color compared to Whitman College's 29%. Both institutions excel in academics, with California Lutheran University's popular majors including Business, Communication, and Psychology, and Whitman College's strengths lying in the fields of Biology, Economics, and English. While California Lutheran University boasts a slightly higher graduation rate of 79%, Whitman College's graduates enjoy a higher median salary of $68,700 compared to $60,500. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the unique characteristics
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![]() California Lutheran University |
![]() Whitman College |
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Overview |
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Location | Thousand Oaks, California | Walla Walla, Washington |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
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 |
Students retention rate | 83.0% | 89.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.9% | 59.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$50
|
$50 |
SAT range | 1090 - 1290 | 1295 - 1455 |
ACT range | 23 - 28 | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 17.0% | 21.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 5.0% | 19.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,041 | 5,155 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,311 | 3,039 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 492 | 477 |
Yield rate | 14.9% | 15.7% |
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 | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $69,251 | $71,982 |
Average net price | $24,065 | $35,627 |
Tuition | $45,500 | $55,560 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,130
Meal plan:
$6,840
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Room/dormitory:
$6,080
Meal plan:
$7,720
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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 |
91.0%
Average amount $30,781 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
53.0%
Average amount $5,462 |
42.0%
Average amount $4,853 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $23,023 |
2.0%
Average amount $14,105 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,592
Men 46.8% Women 53.2% |
1,559
Men 43.9% Women 56.1% |
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% | 65.0% |
International students | 6.1% | 10.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,517 | 886 |
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 | Washington California Oregon Colorado Minnesota |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 73.8% | 88.7% |
Dropout rate | 4.9% | 1.6% |
Transferred out | 20.8% | 8.0% |
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)
Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
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