Carroll College vs. PLU

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

Carroll College PLU
Location Helena, MT Tacoma, WA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,168 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #447 #311
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carroll.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carroll College PLU
Tuition (In State) $37,828 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $37,828 $49,472
Room & Board $11,182 $11,826
Avg Net Price $23,916 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $28,266 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Carroll College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,519 3,334
Admitted 1,186 2,964
Acceptance Rate 78.1% 88.9%
Enrolled % 25% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 13/29 27/30
SAT Range 1080/1200 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 Feb 28, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Carroll College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Carroll College PLU
Graduation Rate 59% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Carroll College PLU
% Men 39% 36%
% Women 61% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 80% 68%
% Black 1% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

Carroll College PLU
% In-State 39% 74%
% Out-of-State 60% 22%

Campus

Carroll 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 Carroll College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,168 students)

Carroll College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carroll College or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 30.8% more expensive to attend than Carroll College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $37,828.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.8% higher at PLU than Carroll College ($49,472.00 vs. $37,828.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carroll College than PLU ($23,916 vs. $24,825)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carroll College are 5.8% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($11,182 vs. $11,826)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carroll College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 28.9% larger than aid received Carroll College ($36,435 vs. $28,266)

Carroll College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 7 points higher than at Carroll College (1110)
  • Incoming Carroll College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Carroll College (3.64)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Carroll College (78.1%)

Carroll College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carroll 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 Carroll College.

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Carroll College (66% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Carroll College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $47,500)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Carroll College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Carroll College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More Carroll College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)

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