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California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA 2,296 Undergrads 76.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$68,426
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$30,109
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,695
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$30,109
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$69,695
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate76.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
75.7%
SAT Avg
1,266
SAT Reading
25th: 59059575th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 56059575th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 242675th: 31
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$611k
+$145k
+$127k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$503k
+$36k
+$19k
Full Cost$68k/yr
+$365k
-$102k
-$119k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$30k/yr
53
17%
Full Cost$68k/yr
Never
-48%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return0%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-64%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$22,078
Earnings (4yr)
$89,573
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Agricultural Engineering
BachCIP: 1403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,624
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$16,145
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$264k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,587
Earnings (4yr)
$64,939
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,916
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,802
Earnings (4yr)
$61,653
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
BachCIP: 0999
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$68,806
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$77,030
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,433
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,428
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,806
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$24,728
Earnings (4yr)
$83,310
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (4yr)
$70,409
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,990
Earnings (4yr)
$32,316
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pharmacology and Toxicology
BachCIP: 2610
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,883
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$60,243
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,153
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,998
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,820
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
PB-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
PB-CertCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,255
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$150,979
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$627k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$26,486
Earnings (4yr)
$95,459
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
MastCIP: 5207
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,050
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Business
MastCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$44,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,901
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,919
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$14,600
Earnings (4yr)
$81,041
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$82,204
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,020
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Theological and Ministerial Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,779
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$181,467
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,243
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Other Programs
Business Administration, Management and Operations
DegCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
DegCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,005
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
DegCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,551
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Special Education and Teaching
DegCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,956
Natl Median: $70,406
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.