By Cal Lutheran NewsThis fall, the Marymount Scholars Program at California Lutheran University will grow, offering transformative scholarships to 10 additional students, thanks to a $1.325 million, four-year pledge from the Marymount Education Foundation.
The university’s current cohort of seven will grow to 17, putting life-changing financial support within reach of prospective students in the Greater Los Angeles area. The renewable scholarships aim to ease the costs of tuition, housing, meals, textbooks and study abroad while fostering professional development opportunities.
“At California Lutheran University, we are proud to support a growing community of Marymount Scholars who are excelling both inside and outside the classroom,” said Robyn K. Jones, executive director of Marymount Education Foundation. “Our partnership is grounded in a shared belief that students deserve access to a high-quality private education, along with the resources and mentorship needed to succeed.”
This new chapter of the partnership follows the foundation’s initial $87,000 commitment to support seven Cal Lutheran students in 2025. After Marymount California University closed its doors in 2022, the foundation looked to other private universities, like Cal Lutheran, to continue its mission of bringing positive change by improving accessibility, degree attainment and community initiatives.
The incoming cohort will include six transfer students and four first-year students, including graduates of local community colleges. Scholars, on average, receive a generous $25,000 financial aid package, along with the foundation’s mentorship opportunities to support personal and academic success upon degree completion.
“At Cal Lutheran, we believe education has the power to transform lives — and partnerships like this one are how that belief becomes reality,” Cal Lutheran President John Nunes said. “The Marymount Education Foundation has placed extraordinary trust in our community, and we take that responsibility seriously. This investment will open doors for students who will make our campus, and our world, better for having been here.”
Selected scholarship recipients and their families will receive a warm introduction to the Cal Lutheran and Marymount Education Foundation communities at a special on-campus orientation in July.
The expansion reflects the foundation’s confidence in a Cal Lutheran education to provide the scholars the opportunity to develop as leaders committed to service and justice, as well as the shared conviction that financial barriers should never stand between a motivated student and a meaningful education.
“Through this continued collaboration, we are empowering students to graduate with confidence, pursue meaningful careers and make a positive impact in their communities,” Jones said.
About California Lutheran University: Founded in 1959 and federally recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2016, California Lutheran University is home to over 2,200 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. Our students come from 58 countries and represent many faiths and spiritualities. Our dedicated, accomplished faculty teach in small classes, guiding our students as they grow into open-minded leaders who are strong in character and judgment, confident in identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Everyone at Cal Lutheran is committed to helping students pursue their passions, discover their purpose and transform their communities. Learn more at CalLutheran.edu.
About the Marymount Education Foundation: The Marymount Education Foundation was established in 2022 to carry forward the mission of Marymount California University through scholarships and educational initiatives that promote access, degree attainment, and a community of learners. Based in Rancho Palos Verdes, the Foundation’s flagship Marymount Scholars Program currently supports students at California Lutheran University, Chapman University, La Sierra University and Mount Saint Mary’s University.
