Denison vs. PLU

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

Denison PLU
Location Granville, OH Tacoma, WA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,416 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #98 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website denison.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Denison PLU
Tuition (In State) $60,000 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $60,000 $49,472
Room & Board $14,400 $11,826
Avg Net Price $38,267 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $36,497 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 99%

Admission

Denison PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,220 3,334
Admitted 2,684 2,964
Acceptance Rate 22% 88.9%
Enrolled % 25.4% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 29/32 27/30
SAT Range 1270/1460 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

Denison PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Denison PLU
Graduation Rate 79% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,100 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $268 $266

Diversity

Denison PLU
% Men 48% 36%
% Women 52% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 68%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 10% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 8% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Denison PLU
% In-State 21% 74%
% Out-of-State 65% 22%

Campus

Denison 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 Denison based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 2,416 students)

Denison vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison or PLU?

  • Denison University is 21.3% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($60,000.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.3% higher at Denison than Pacific Lutheran University ($60,000.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Denison ($24,825 vs. $38,267)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 21.8% lower than costs at Denison University ($11,826 vs. $14,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Denison University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 0.2% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($36,497 vs. $36,435)

Denison vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Denison (22%)

Denison vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Denison 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 Denison.

  • The graduation rate at Denison is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (79% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Denison University earn on average $3,800 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($56,100 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Denison graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Denison graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)

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