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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland Washington State| Bethany Lutheran College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BLC | PLU | ||
| Location | Mankato, MN | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 902 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Other (none of the above) | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | blc.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BLC | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,280 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,280 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,270 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,456 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,192 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
BLC | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 881 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 449 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 51% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 42.3% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.51 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/26 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1260 | 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 | Jul 1, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
BLC | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BLC | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $266 |
Diversity |
BLC | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 3% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 88% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
BLC | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 12% | ||
Campus |
BLC | 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 BLC based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 902 students)
BLC vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BLC or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 69% more expensive to attend than BLC for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $29,280.00)
- Out of state tuition is 69% higher at PLU than Bethany Lutheran College ($49,472.00 vs. $29,280.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethany Lutheran College than PLU ($19,456 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethany Lutheran College are 50.5% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($8,270 vs. $12,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Bethany Lutheran College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 95.4% larger than aid received Bethany Lutheran College ($39,464 vs. $20,192)
BLC vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BLC or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or BLC .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 43 points higher than at BLC (1074)
- Incoming PLU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at BLC (23)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at BLC (3.51)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than BLC (51%)
BLC vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BLC 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 BLC.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Bethany Lutheran College (66% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $15,000 more per year than BLC graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $37,300)
- Bethany Lutheran College students graduate with a $2,550 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,800)
- BLC graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($240 vs. $266)
- More BLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/