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SPU Bard College UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Hampshire College Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University| Bennington College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Bennington | PLU | ||
| Location | Bennington, VT | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 880 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bennington.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bennington | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $60,648 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $60,648 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,720 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $32,497 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $49,183 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
Bennington | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,801 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 1,269 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.3% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.3% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.51 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1260/1370 | 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 | Jan 15, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Bennington | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Bennington | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $31,700 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 77% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $266 |
Diversity |
Bennington | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 65% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 7% | ||
| % International | 13% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Bennington | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 87% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Bennington | 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 Bennington based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 880 students)
Bennington vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bennington or PLU?
- Bennington College is 22.6% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($60,648.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 22.6% higher at Bennington than Pacific Lutheran University ($60,648.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Bennington ($24,825 vs. $32,497)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 49.8% lower than costs at Bennington College ($11,826 vs. $17,720)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Bennington College (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bennington College students is 35% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($49,183 vs. $36,435)
Bennington vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bennington or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Bennington .
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Bennington (3.51)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Bennington (45.3%)
Bennington vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bennington 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 Bennington.
- The graduation rate at Bennington is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (67% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $20,600 more per year than Bennington graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $31,700)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Bennington graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Bennington graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
- More Bennington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/