Centre College vs. PLU

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

Centre College PLU
Location Danville, KY Tacoma, WA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,357 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #147 #311
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centre.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Centre College PLU
Tuition (In State) $48,070 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $48,070 $49,472
Room & Board $12,300 $11,826
Avg Net Price $23,584 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $37,116 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Centre College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,724 3,334
Admitted 1,712 2,964
Acceptance Rate 62.8% 88.9%
Enrolled % 23.4% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 27/30
SAT Range 1195/1470 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

Centre College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • History (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Centre College PLU
Graduation Rate 82% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,500 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Centre College PLU
% Men 48% 36%
% Women 52% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 78% 68%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 3% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Centre College PLU
% In-State 53% 74%
% Out-of-State 40% 22%

Campus

Centre 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 Centre College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,357 students)

Centre College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centre College or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 2.9% more expensive to attend than Centre College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $48,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.9% higher at PLU than Centre College ($49,472.00 vs. $48,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Centre College than PLU ($23,584 vs. $24,825)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 4% lower than costs at Centre College ($11,826 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Centre College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Centre College students is 1.9% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($37,116 vs. $36,435)

Centre College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Centre College (1279) is 162 points higher than at PLU (1117)
  • Incoming Centre College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Centre College (3.62)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Centre College (62.8%)

Centre College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Centre 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 Centre College.

  • The graduation rate at Centre College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (82% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Centre College earn on average $200 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($52,500 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Centre College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Centre College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More Centre College 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/