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SPU Bradley Carthage Knox College Creighton University UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Drake DePauw ISU St Olaf| Augustana College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Augustana | PLU | ||
| Location | Rock Island, IL | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,484 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #315 | #429 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | augustana.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Augustana | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,674 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,674 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,166 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,695 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,474 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Augustana | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,424 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 5,022 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.6% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.4% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1250 | 988/1258 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Augustana | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Augustana | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 76% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,100 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 81% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $266 |
Diversity |
Augustana | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Augustana | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 17% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Augustana | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Augustana based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 2,484 students)
Augustana vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Augustana or PLU?
- Augustana College is 0.4% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($49,674.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.4% higher at Augustana than Pacific Lutheran University ($49,674.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Augustana ($23,841 vs. $24,695)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Augustana College are 2.3% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($12,166 vs. $12,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Augustana College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 8.2% larger than aid received Augustana College ($39,464 vs. $36,474)
Augustana vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Augustana or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Augustana .
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Augustana (3.3)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Augustana (67.6%)
Augustana vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Augustana or PLU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PLU and Augustana.
- The graduation rate at Augustana is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (76% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Augustana College earn on average $2,800 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($55,100 vs. $52,300)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Augustana graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Augustana graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
- More Augustana graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/