Why California Lutheran University
Founded in 1959, Cal Lutheran is a private university in Thousand Oaks, Southern California — between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. It has an average class size of 14 and 45 majors, with students from 40 states and 67 countries (Source: Cal Lutheran — Facts at a Glance). Total undergraduate enrolment was 2,160 in Fall 2025 (Source: Cal Lutheran Fact Book — Fall Headcount Trends 2021–2025).
Both tennis teams — the Kingsmen (men) and the Regals (women) — compete in NCAA Division III’s Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) and play at the Poulson Tennis Center. Cal Lutheran has 22 intercollegiate athletic teams in total (Source: CLUsports — Quick Facts).
How funding works in Division III
Division III schools may not award financial aid to any student on the basis of athletics leadership, ability, participation or performance, so there are no athletic scholarships in Division III tennis. (Source: 2026-27 NCAA Division III Manual, Bylaw 15.01.3 (Criteria for Institutional Financial Aid)) Division III athletes can receive academic (merit-based) and need-based financial aid under the same policies as other students, and the NCAA says many do. (Source: NCAA Eligibility Center - NCAA Division III Initial Eligibility Requirements)
Cal Lutheran’s published undergraduate awards include (Source: Cal Lutheran — Undergraduate Scholarships and Grants):
- Admission Merit Scholarship: $15,000–$33,000 for first-year students, with automatic consideration
- Presidential Scholarship: up to full tuition for top-tier applicants, who interview at Honors Day — you must apply by the 15 November Early Action deadline
- Global Scholars Program: up to $30,000 for first-year students from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Europe and Latin America, renewable for later years of enrolment
- Need-based grants, with eligibility based on financial need
Because the merit money follows your academic record, your grades matter as much as your tennis. That is exactly where TNA helps.
Why apply through TNA
- An honest evaluation of your level and your academics — and which Cal Lutheran merit awards you can realistically target
- A recruiting profile and match video reviewed by the TNA team before the coaches see them
- A direct introduction to the coaching staff, instead of an unanswered email
- Admission, financial-aid and student-visa guidance from first application to arrival
- Backup options — your Scholarship Membership also covers every other suitable university and scholarship on TNA
What you will need
- Secondary-school transcripts and your predicted or final grades
- Your UTR or ranking, recent results and a match video
- For international players, an NCAA Eligibility Center account: international students going to a Division III school need an ‘Athletics Certification Account’ (Source: NCAA Eligibility Center Registration - NCAA.org)
- An English test if English is not your first language — most U.S. colleges ask non-native English speakers for one, and each college sets which tests it accepts (Source: Prepare For U.S. Standardized Tests, Undergraduate - EducationUSA) — see our guide for international students
- A student visa: once admitted, the university issues your Form I-20 for the F-1 student visa (Source: Students and the Form I-20 - Study in the States (DHS/SEVP)), and you pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before the visa is issued (Source: Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee - Study in the States (DHS/SEVP)). TNA guides you through it
How to apply
Create your free player profile, activate a scholarship membership and apply in one click from the California Lutheran University card. TNA evaluates you and introduces qualified players to the coaching staff. Apply early — the Presidential Scholarship requires an application by the 15 November Early Action deadline.
Sources
- 2026-27 NCAA Division III Manual, Bylaw 15.01.3 (Criteria for Institutional Financial Aid)
- NCAA Eligibility Center - NCAA Division III Initial Eligibility Requirements
- Cal Lutheran — Facts at a Glance
- Cal Lutheran Fact Book — Fall Headcount Trends 2021–2025
- CLUsports — Quick Facts
- Cal Lutheran — Undergraduate Scholarships and Grants
- NCAA Eligibility Center Registration - NCAA.org
- Prepare For U.S. Standardized Tests, Undergraduate - EducationUSA
- Students and the Form I-20 - Study in the States (DHS/SEVP)
- Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee - Study in the States (DHS/SEVP)
University facts checked on the cited pages on 7 October 2026.