Bryn Mawr vs. PLU

Should I go to Bryn Mawr College or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bryn Mawr 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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Bryn Mawr College vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Bryn Mawr College Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Bryn Mawr College Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

Bryn Mawr PLU
Location Bryn Mawr, PA Tacoma, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,742 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #81 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website brynmawr.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bryn Mawr PLU
Tuition (In State) $58,000 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $58,000 $49,472
Room & Board $18,050 $11,826
Avg Net Price $39,072 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $36,618 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 99%

Admission

Bryn Mawr PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,594 3,334
Admitted 1,105 2,964
Acceptance Rate 30.7% 88.9%
Enrolled % 35.8% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.85 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 29/33 27/30
SAT Range 1280/1495 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

Bryn Mawr PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Foreign Languages (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Bryn Mawr PLU
Graduation Rate 87% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $61,500 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $268 $266

Diversity

Bryn Mawr PLU
% Men 4% 36%
% Women 96% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 36% 68%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 23% 4%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

Bryn Mawr PLU
% In-State 9% 74%
% Out-of-State 73% 22%

Campus

Bryn Mawr PLU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,742 students)

Bryn Mawr vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bryn Mawr or PLU?

  • Bryn Mawr College is 17.2% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($58,000.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.2% higher at Bryn Mawr than Pacific Lutheran University ($58,000.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Bryn Mawr ($24,825 vs. $39,072)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 52.6% lower than costs at Bryn Mawr College ($11,826 vs. $18,050)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Bryn Mawr College (99% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bryn Mawr College students is 0.5% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($36,618 vs. $36,435)

Bryn Mawr vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bryn Mawr College (1346) is 229 points higher than at PLU (1117)
  • Incoming Bryn Mawr students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Bryn Mawr students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Bryn Mawr (30.7%)

Bryn Mawr vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bryn Mawr 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 Bryn Mawr.

  • The graduation rate at Bryn Mawr is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (87% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Bryn Mawr College earn on average $9,200 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($61,500 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Bryn Mawr graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Bryn Mawr graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More Bryn Mawr graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 74%)

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