California Lutheran's tuition & fees has increased from $38,430 (2015) to $52,560 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 36.77% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $17,520 (year 2015) to $22,046 (year 2025).
California Lutheran's tuition increase rate is higher than the California's average increase rate of 14.58%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 33.10% from 2015 ($56,211).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, California Lutheran's COA is $74,816, which is increased by 1.95% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to California Lutheran's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 36.77% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $51,750. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at California Lutheran University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $934, and it has decreased -47.05% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,764 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,791 | 1.53% |
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| 2017-18 | $1,854 | 3.52% |
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| 2018-19 | $1,917 | 3.40% |
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| 2019-20 | $1,971 | 2.82% |
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| 2020-21 | $1,080 | -45.21% |
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| 2021-22 | $1,125 | 4.17% |
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| 2022-23 | $1,152 | 2.40% |
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| 2023-24 | $936 | -18.75% |
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| 2024-25 | $934 | -0.21% |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 23.59% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 53.34% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at California Lutheran University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $16,017 | $16,237 | - |
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| 2016-17 | $16,328 | $16,750 | 1.94% |
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| 2017-18 | $16,660 | $17,632 | 2.03% |
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| 2018-19 | $16,990 | $18,127 | 1.98% |
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| 2019-20 | $17,917 | $19,458 | 5.46% |
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| 2020-21 | $17,630 | $21,313 | -1.60% |
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| 2021-22 | $18,049 | $22,114 | 2.38% |
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| 2022-23 | $18,641 | $22,744 | 3.28% |
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| 2023-24 | $21,780 | $25,691 | 16.84% |
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| 2024-25 | $21,322 | $29,082 | -2.10% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between California Lutheran University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| California Lutheran University | $52,560 | $50,670 | 3.73% |
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|
| University of Southern California | $71,647 | $68,237 | 5.00% |
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|
| University of the People | $1,200 | $1,200 | - |
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|
| National University | $13,284 | $13,320 | -0.27% |
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|
| Stanford University | $65,910 | $62,484 | 5.48% |
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| California Baptist University | $41,228 | $39,720 | 3.80% |
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