One Student at a Time
Retention at Cal Lutheran
Students come to Cal Lutheran expecting to earn their degree.
It is our responsibility to help them succeed.
Did you know that first-to-second year retention rate is one of the most important measures of student success? When a student leaves Cal Lutheran before graduating, they often have unpaid loans, costs for transferring to other schools, and difficulties completing their degree. It also affects Cal Lutheran's ability to maintain enrollment, which impacts university budget.
Student persistence is integral to our institution, and everyone at Cal Lutheran plays a role.
Where We're At
80.6%
of Fall 2022 first-year students retained to second semester
Last updated: October 2, 2023
Stories From Our Students
Amber AndersonThe week before finals in spring semester, I was going through a pretty rough breakup. One morning, as I was leaving my Physiological Psychology class, Professor Fischer saw that I looked quite exhausted. Instead of assuming that I was distressed about finals, she reached out later in the day to see how I was doing and suggested that I come to see her in her office the next day. Not only did Professor Fischer comfort me when I was overwhelmed and heartbroken, she went out of her way to make me feel supported and heard. Her words were so thoughtful, so kind and so just; I had rarely felt as understood or heard. I am eternally grateful for this wonderful woman, whose words and kindness still resonate with me when life gets dark.
Testimonial for Megan Fischer, Student Life
Meet the Retention Working Group
The initiatives supporting Retention at Cal Lutheran are driven by a working group on limited appointment for the 2023-24 academic year.
What Is Retention?
Discover how we look at retention as an indicator of student success.
