Latino Magazine Lauds Cal Lutheran

When it comes to providing a good atmosphere for Latino students, Cal Lutheran University has made the grade.

The small residential college has been ranked by Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine as among the best schools for Latinos in the United States.

“We were really surprised,” said Cal Lutheran spokeswoman Lynda Paige Fulford.

The list, which includes more than 700 colleges and universities, was culled from an annual survey sent to the country’s approximately 3,500 schools. According to publisher Jose Lopez-Isa, 1,300 schools responded this year.

The list was compiled after analyzing the responses as well as the schools’ catalogs and information from the U.S. Department of Education. Schools were graded on the number of Latino students, faculty and administrators; financial aid; remedial and academic support programs, and cultural programs.

About 15% of Cal Lutheran’s 1,500 undergraduates are Latino. Fulford said the school provides academic aid through a federal grant for all students, including many Latinos.

There are also several campus events geared to Latin culture, including the Festival de Encuentros.