By Cal Lutheran News(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Sept. 13, 2022) California Lutheran University has jumped two spots to its highest position ever in the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings — sixth among 130 ranked regional universities throughout 15 Western states.
The overall U.S. News rankings consider student outcomes, faculty resources, academic reputation, per-student spending, admissions selectivity and alumni giving. The 2022-2023 list, released Sept. 12, includes universities in the West that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s degrees, and a few doctoral programs.
The university jumped seven spots from 14th to seventh on the Best Value Schools list, which factors in academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid. At Cal Lutheran, 97% of full-time undergraduate students receive need-based financial aid.
Cal Lutheran retained its position in the top five on the Best Colleges for Veterans list, ranking third. This list takes into account a school’s enrollment of and benefits for veterans and active-duty service members, including participation in the federal Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps veterans pay for tuition at private schools.
Among universities in the West, Cal Lutheran ranked 44th among Top Performers on Social Mobility (up from 56th in 2021), based on the number of enrolled students receiving federal Pell Grants and these students’ graduation rates.
Cal Lutheran is based in Thousand Oaks, California, with additional locations in Westlake Village, Oxnard, Santa Maria and Berkeley. Designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, Cal Lutheran serves about 3,600 students from across the nation and around the world from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and faiths.
