Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Haverford College Swarthmore MHC Smith College Vassar SPU Villanova Barnard Oberlin UW-Seattle Seattle U Lehigh| Bryn Mawr College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
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 |
|
|
||
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/