Austin College vs. PLU

Should I go to Austin College or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Austin College or PLU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Austin College vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Austin College Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Austin College Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

Austin College PLU
Location Sherman, TX Tacoma, WA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,182 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #188 #311
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website austincollege.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Austin College PLU
Tuition (In State) $44,740 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $44,740 $49,472
Room & Board $12,958 $11,826
Avg Net Price $24,739 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $33,033 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Austin College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,192 3,334
Admitted 2,823 2,964
Acceptance Rate 54.4% 88.9%
Enrolled % 11.7% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/30 27/30
SAT Range 1160/1370 1253/1423
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 Jul 31, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Austin College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • Business (14%)
  • History (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Austin College PLU
Graduation Rate 75% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $268 $266

Diversity

Austin College PLU
% Men 49% 36%
% Women 51% 64%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 53% 68%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 19% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 1% 7%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Austin College PLU
% In-State 91% 74%
% Out-of-State 8% 22%

Campus

Austin College 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 Austin College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,182 students)

Austin College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Austin College or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 10.6% more expensive to attend than Austin College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $44,740.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.6% higher at PLU than Austin College ($49,472.00 vs. $44,740.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Austin College than PLU ($24,739 vs. $24,825)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 9.6% lower than costs at Austin College ($11,826 vs. $12,958)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Austin College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 10.3% larger than aid received Austin College ($36,435 vs. $33,033)

Austin College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Austin College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Austin College .

  • The average SAT score at Austin College (1165) is 48 points higher than at PLU (1117)
  • Incoming Austin College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Austin College (3.63)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Austin College (54.4%)

Austin College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Austin College 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 Austin College.

  • The graduation rate at Austin College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (75% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Austin College earn on average $2,300 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Austin College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Austin College graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Austin College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/