The states on the West Coast - Washington, Oregon and California - are home to at least a handful of universities that are affiliated with the Lutheran denomination. These schools provide students with a wide range of degree programs, spiritual growth opportunities and extracurricular activities. Find out more about these schools and what makes them unique.
School Comparison
The Lutheran colleges on the West Coast are 4-year schools. Compare and contrast these schools' undergraduate tuition rates below.
| School Name | Institution Type | Denomination | Location | Tuition (2019-2020)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University - Portland | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod | Portland, OR | $32,230 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Tacoma, WA | $43,674 |
| Concordia University - Irvine | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod | Irvine, CA | $36,740 |
| California Lutheran University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Thousand Oaks, CA | $44,382 |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Description of Lutheran Colleges on the West Coast
The Lutheran colleges along the West Coast provide students with many different ways to deepen their personal faith, as well as prepare for a career after graduation. Here we discuss some of the stand-out features of these schools and their student population sizes.
Concordia University - Portland
Concordia University - Portland in Oregon had 1,501 undergraduate students in 2018, according to the NCES. Students at the university can pursue undergraduate and graduate degree programs in areas like law, psychology, exercise and sport science, education, social work and marketing. The university helps support students' spiritual growth through daily ''Sacred Time'', chapel services, prayer and praise events, Bible studies, spiritual retreats, mission trips and religious groups like Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Christian Life Ministries. Students on campus may also pursue personal interests by joining a range of student organizations, such as Investment Club, Social Work Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, Soccer Club and Black Student Union.
Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University in Washington offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in fields such as nursing, finance, women's and gender studies, anthropology, Chinese studies, geosciences and kinesiology. Students can invest in their spiritual lives through chapel services, pastoral care, interfaith activities and spiritual organizations, like FCA and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The university also has a variety of extracurricular activities and groups, including intramurals, honor societies, Garden Club, Dance Club, Chemistry Club and Habitat for Humanity. As of 2018, the university had close to 2,840 undergraduate students, per the NCES.
Concordia University - Irvine
Spiritual life at Concordia University - Irvine in California consists of daily chapel services, Bible studies and global mission opportunities to countries such as Mexico and Hungary. The school also offers different student groups and organizations, like Global Citizens Club, Arab Culture Club, Math Club, student yearbook (Clearlight), Debate and International Business Club. According to the NCES, the university had a little more than 1,785 undergraduate students in 2018. Students can pursue a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in subjects including Biblical studies, classical languages, graphic design, missiology, athletic training, counseling and coaching.
California Lutheran University
In 2018, the NCES reported that California Lutheran University had around 3,059 undergraduate students. The university offers diverse undergraduate and graduate degree programs in areas such as information technology, clinical psychology, hospitality and tourism management, multimedia, music production, environmental science and religion. Students can grow spiritually on campus through worship services, interfaith opportunities and spiritual groups, like Lord of Life (the campus church), FCA and College Life (fellowship). Other student organizations and groups on campus include Adventure Club, CLU Beekeepers, CLU Dive Club, Knights Lacrosse Club, Oceans Outreach and Pre-Pharmacy Club.
