MS in Information Technology From California Lutheran University Entry : Fees, Deadlines, Admissions and Scholarships

California Lutheran University Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) is a graduate degree in Thousand Oaks, California, delivered here as full-time on-campus study for international applicants. The programme normally takes 12 to 24 months. It requires a bachelor’s degree with Grade Point Average (GPA) 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, approximately 75% to 80% for Indian applicants. The 2026-27 tuition is US$32,760 (INR 31.63 Lakhs) for 36 credits, before living costs and other charges, and the next intake starts on 26 October 2026.

MSIT combines technology implementation with leadership strategy, using practical projects to prepare students to plan, secure and manage organisational systems. Its curriculum offers a general route plus cybersecurity, data analytics and IT management tracks. The structure suits applicants who want applied technology depth and can connect a chosen track to a specific career direction. The important tradeoff is that specialty-track electives require attendance at the Thousand Oaks campus, even though general courses can be online, on campus or hybrid.

• No Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score is required for the current MSIT application.
• Weeknight classes can support applicants who need a structured schedule alongside other commitments.
• Four named term windows give applicants more entry timing options than a single annual start.

Also Check: California Lutheran MSIT admission

Cal Lutheran MSIT Fees and Living Costs 2026

For the October 2026 MSIT intake, the current 2026-27 graduate catalog lists US$910 per credit (INR 87,849 per credit). The 36-credit curriculum makes the calculated tuition US$32,760 (INR 31.63 Lakhs) before living costs and other charges.

The same catalog lists a US$32 (INR 3,089) online application fee and a US$450 (INR 43,442) international enrollment deposit after admission. Term-specific technology and wellness amounts are not published on the checked 2026-27 catalog, so they are excluded from the target-cycle total.

Target-cycle fee context: The current catalog confirms MSIT tuition and the application fee. Term-specific technology and wellness charges require verification on the official MSIT fee page before budgeting.

Source: California Lutheran University 2026-27 graduate costs, graduate admission procedures and MSIT curriculum.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 96.5372 as of 16 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

The published tuition is a clear base, but the final billed amount depends on how quickly you complete the 36 credits and which term charges apply. Indian applicants should request the October 2026 fee schedule before transferring funds because the current catalog does not show every MSIT charge.

Cost of Living in Thousand Oaks for MSIT Students

Cal Lutheran’s 2026-27 indirect-cost estimate for the 11-week School of Management category gives the official living baseline. It covers housing and food, personal costs, transportation, books and the graduate direct loan fee, while monthly figures below divide annual amounts by 12.

Source: California Lutheran University 2026-27 indirect costs for the School of Management.

Adding 36-credit tuition to the official annual indirect-cost total produces a calculated one-year baseline of US$77,452 (INR 74.77 Lakhs). That baseline excludes term fees, health insurance, travel, visa charges, deposits and foundation courses, so it is not a final invoice. If completion takes 24 months, tuition plus two annual indirect-cost estimates rises to US$122,144 (INR 1.18 Crore) before those extras.

Residence pricing is separate from the university’s indirect-cost estimate. For 2026-27, 15-week graduate housing is US$14,655 (INR 14.15 Lakhs) for nine months, plus a US$400 (INR 38,615) refundable damage deposit. The university also cites a one-bedroom regional rent of up to US$1,400 (INR 1.35 Lakhs) monthly, which is not a Cal Lutheran living-cost estimate.

Also Check: US living costs for international students

Key insight: A one-year MSIT budget starts at US$77,452 (INR 74.77 Lakhs) before variable charges, so confirm term fees and completion pace before finalising funding.

Cal Lutheran MSIT Admission 2026

The current MSIT admissions page accepts applicants with an undergraduate degree in any field and at least GPA 3.0. It also says no Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required, although the complete file is reviewed.

Indian applicants need official transcripts, English scores, recommendations, a personal statement, graduate advisement and financial evidence. Because the university decides equivalency, prepare a detailed academic record rather than relying only on a percentage conversion.

Academic Eligibility and Application Requirements

Academic eligibility starts with a recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a published GPA benchmark. The table separates the academic threshold from the documents that make an international application complete.

The current no-test policy helps applicants who can show readiness through coursework and experience rather than a standardised score. A transcript evaluation can still add processing time, so order it before submitting the online form.

No programme-specific Information Technology ranking is included because checked ranking sources do not publish one for this MSIT. Overall university positions would not answer the course-level decision.

English Language Proficiency (ELP) Requirements

English Language Proficiency (ELP) is required for most international applicants. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are the two routes named on the current MSIT application page.

The course-specific page expects TOEFL 88 or IELTS 6.5. The university’s graduate English page also lists Duolingo English Test (DET) 120, Pearson Test of English (PTE) 58 and Oxford English Language Test (ELLT) 7. A separate international graduate page currently shows TOEFL 4.5 without naming its scale, so do not self-convert the two TOEFL values.

Published score scales: The table reproduces the university’s stated values without converting between tests.

• IELTS 6.5, PTE 58 or DET 120 gives an Indian applicant a clearly published route with a named scale.
• The TOEFL values conflict across current university pages, so request written confirmation before sending an 88 or 4.5 score.
• An English-medium Indian degree is not an automatic waiver because the published waiver wording also refers to the country’s official language status.

Tip for Indian students: The academic minimum and no-test policy are clear, but transcript equivalency and the conflicting TOEFL display can delay a complete file.

Cal Lutheran MSIT Application 2026

Applications are considered year-round, and the next published MSIT start is 26 October 2026. The course-specific application page lists 01 October 2026 as the Winter priority deadline for this entry.

The programme page names Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer terms, while the international admissions page describes rolling review. No fixed decision date, portal cutoff time or submission timezone is published, although complete files are usually reviewed within about 30 days.

Forward-looking international priority deadlines: The table lists the next published deadline for each named term and omits the already passed Fall 2026 date.

Because the portal publishes calendar dates without a clock time or timezone, Indian applicants should submit before the listed date rather than waiting for an IST conversion. The October start also requires enough time for transcript evaluation, financial review and visa documentation.

Application Steps for Indian Applicants

A complete application combines the online form with a US$32 (INR 3,089) non-refundable fee, official transcripts, recommendations, a personal statement and graduate advisement. International applicants also submit English evidence, a financial responsibility statement, passport information and any requested transcript evaluation.

After official acceptance, the current graduate admission procedure lists a US$450 (INR 43,442) deposit toward first-semester tuition at least 60 days before classes. The deposit is therefore a post-admission cash requirement, not part of the published tuition calculation.

• Order official transcripts and the NACES evaluation early because direct institutional delivery can determine when the file becomes complete.
• Book the graduate advisement conversation before choosing a general route or specialty track, since foundation needs can change the study plan.
• Use the personal statement to connect prior coursework, technical experience and the selected MSIT track to one defined career direction.
• Prepare financial documents and passport evidence before submitting so the October 2026 file can move from admission review to visa processing.

Application tip: Treat 01 October 2026 as the working international deadline for the 26 October start and finish transcript evaluation before submitting the form.

Cal Lutheran MSIT Scholarships 2026

The current MSIT funding page names partial awards rather than a full-tuition international scholarship. The most directly relevant route is the US$2,500 (INR 2.41 Lakhs) Russell and Linda Young Graduate Scholarship for admitted MBA or MSIT applicants.

Indian applicants can also consider the Congregational Partners in Education award or the local-organisation discount when their circumstances match the published conditions. These routes reduce specific charges, but neither should replace proof of funds for the full MSIT budget.

Current published funding context: The university states award values and eligibility conditions, but it does not publish a separate October 2026 scholarship deadline for every route.

• The Russell and Linda Young award is about 7.6% of published tuition, so it reduces the bill without changing the core funding requirement.
• The Congregational Partners award requires support from a congregation and full-time enrolment, so request written eligibility before listing it as committed funding.
• The local-organisation discount is relevant only when an Indian applicant already works for a participating organisation, and it does not cover living costs.

The Graduate Academic Scholarship may award up to US$2,500 (INR 2.41 Lakhs) but uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). An Indian student on an F-1 visa should not count that award until Cal Lutheran confirms eligibility.

Also Check: US scholarships for Indian students

Scholarship reality: The largest named MSIT award is US$2,500 (INR 2.41 Lakhs), so secure tuition and living funds before treating a scholarship decision as certain.

Cal Lutheran MSIT Salary 2026

Cal Lutheran does not publish a current MSIT course-cohort salary, offer rate or placement rate on the checked official pages. The programme page instead shows occupation salaries from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which are external job-market benchmarks rather than Cal Lutheran graduate outcomes.

The calculated first-year study and living baseline is US$77,452 (INR 74.77 Lakhs), excluding variable charges and visa costs. Because course-specific outcomes are unpublished, a payback period would not be a defensible forecast for this programme.

• The US$77,452 (INR 74.77 Lakhs) one-year baseline can become US$122,144 (INR 1.18 Crore) over 24 months, so set a loan ceiling above the published baseline.
• No MSIT cohort salary or offer rate is published, so request recent programme-level employment evidence before treating the degree as repayment support.
• The university-cited role benchmarks below describe occupations rather than graduates, so use the specific role and location when building a career model.
• Standard post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) can last up to 12 months, so confirm the MSIT classification before assuming a STEM extension.
• No India-return salary evidence is published for this MSIT, so test any loan against a verified India offer before choosing a return plan.

External US Job-Market Benchmarks

The following figures are published role benchmarks cited by Cal Lutheran, not median or starting salaries earned by this MSIT cohort. They show possible occupational destinations, but they do not establish placement probability or repayment capacity.

Source: California Lutheran University MSIT career outcomes page citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; figures are external occupational benchmarks.

Take-home pay varies by role, state, benefits and payroll deductions, so use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator for a personal model.

Read More: US post-study work options

ROI reality: The MSIT has a practical curriculum and clear occupational pathways, but absent course outcomes make verified funding and role-specific evidence more important than benchmark salaries.

US Visa for Cal Lutheran MSIT Students 2026

International applicants choosing the on-campus MSIT normally use the F-1 Student visa, which is the U.S. academic student visa. The visa application fee is US$185 (INR 17,859), and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee is US$350 (INR 33,788). Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) can provide up to 12 months of related work authorization. A further 24-month Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) extension depends on the degree code and employer conditions. The university does not publish an MSIT Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. Review the official student visa instructions before paying fees or booking an interview.

• Students with F-1 status may work on campus up to 20 hours each week while classes are in session, subject to university and status rules.
• OPT work must relate to the major and requires authorization, so discuss timing with the Designated School Official (DSO) before graduation.
• The H-1B route uses the higher of actual or prevailing wage, while permanent residence has no fixed MSIT-linked timeline.
• F-2 status can cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but F-2 dependants are not employment-authorized.

Check Out: US student visa requirements

Visa reality: The standard post-study window is up to 12 months, and the MSIT STEM code is not published. Build the plan without assuming a three-year work period.