California Lutheran University

The mission of the university is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice.

Simply put, everyone is welcome here. Our students come from more than 45 countries and 30 different denominations and faith backgrounds. So no one is an outsider. This is a place for everyone.We firmly believe our culture is greatly enhanced when individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences become part of the University family and bring their talents and views to the academy.

The 225-acre campus is located midway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, just 20 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean nestled against the hills in Thousand Oaks. Off-site centers are located in Woodland Hills, Westlake Village, Oxnard and Santa Maria. Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary is located in Berkeley.

Cal Lutheran is a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, and the Council of Independent Colleges. Its program in Financial Planning has been registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. Cal Lutheran is one of 26 colleges and universities affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The university’s intercollegiate athletic programs compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, NCAA Division III.

Cal Lutheran offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs through the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Management, Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Psychology and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.Thirty-seven majors and 34 minors are offered in the traditional undergraduate program. The Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program offers degrees in seven majors. Graduate programs include doctorates in educational leadership, higher education leadership, clinical psychology and theology; and master’s degrees in education, psychology, business, economics, information technology, public policy and administration, divinity, and theological studies.

Cal Lutheran’s intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) and the NCAA Division III. Men’s teams compete in baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball and water polo. Women’s teams compete in basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball and water polo. Junior varsity teams compete in men’s and women’s basketball, men's and women’s soccer, baseball and women's volleyball.

As part of that 500-year-old Lutheran tradition, we believe that understanding our purpose as individuals will help us make our best possible contribution to the world.We encourage students to follow their own passion to uncover their purpose. This prepares them for a life of success in which they always offer their very best to others—family, community, and the world.

This is one of the most deeply held values in the Lutheran tradition. And its importance is evident on campus—our students come from more than 45 countries and embody a wide variety of faiths.At Cal Lutheran, your personal convictions and beliefs are honored and respected.We also provide you with opportunities to consider and discuss matters of faith and intellect in an open and friendly environment. This challenges and strengthens you with new intellectual and theological reflections.

We want you to make your own decisions. To tackle the fundamental issues with courage. To choose for yourself whether the information you encounter meets the tests of knowledge and truth.Through your inquiries, you will discover profound connections and meaning.We will offer you structure with options, freedom with responsibility, and integrity with compassion. This kind of challenging academic environment enables you to grow as an independent, thoughtful, and compassionate individual.

We firmly believe our culture is enhanced when individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences become part of the University family and bring their talents and views to the academy.In the classroom and laboratory, we see that learning and research benefit when the University is diverse and when there is a range of questions and opinions. In the administrative offices, we have found that problem solving and planning abilities improve when different points of view are presented. In every sector, the University's diverse blend of students, staff and faculty is a tremendous resource that benefits all.

At Cal Lutheran, we are committed to an inclusive learning and work environment that values individual differences and respects each person's dignity. We strive to open our doors to students and employees from all walks of life and to assist them once they arrive. Many of our students are the first in their families to attend college. Their insights add greatly to the overall educational experience.

California Lutheran University is a selective, comprehensive institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences and professional fields. Mentored by dedicated and accomplished faculty members, students pursue their passion and discover their purpose as they seek to grow as individuals. California Lutheran College was founded in 1959 on a ranch donated by Richard Pederson, the son of Norwegian immigrants. The college opened its doors to 330 students in September 1961 and held its first Commencement in May 1964.

Founded in 1959, California Lutheran University is home to more than 2,963 undergraduate and 1,273 graduate students who come from more than 45 countries and represent a wide variety of faiths.Our dedicated, accomplished faculty works with small classes of students who are open-minded—about ideas, about people, and about faith—and are seeking to grow as individuals.

Both in the classroom and outside of it, everyone at Cal Lutheran is committed to helping each student pursue their passions to discover their purpose, and follow that purpose to transform their community—and the world.