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Seattle U University of Portland UW-Seattle Creighton University Whitman College Washington State SPU Whitworth University Loyola Marymount Western Washington University USD DU| Gonzaga University | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Gonzaga | PLU | ||
| Location | Spokane, WA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 7,306 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #169 | #429 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gonzaga.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Gonzaga | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $52,540 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $52,540 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,080 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,295 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $29,150 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Gonzaga | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,530 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 7,239 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.3% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.67 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 988/1258 | ||
| 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 1, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Gonzaga | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Gonzaga | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 83% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $61,600 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,394 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $272 | $266 |
Diversity |
Gonzaga | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 19% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Gonzaga | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 48% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 48% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Gonzaga | 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
- Gonzaga University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (7,306 students vs. 2,737 students)
Gonzaga vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Gonzaga or PLU?
- Gonzaga University is 6.2% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($52,540.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.2% higher at Gonzaga than Pacific Lutheran University ($52,540.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Gonzaga ($23,841 vs. $40,295)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 21.2% lower than costs at Gonzaga University ($12,446 vs. $15,080)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Gonzaga University than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 35.4% larger than aid received Gonzaga University ($39,464 vs. $29,150)
Gonzaga vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Gonzaga or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Gonzaga .
- The average SAT score at Gonzaga University (1205) is 88 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming Gonzaga students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Gonzaga (3.67)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Gonzaga (76%)
Gonzaga vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Gonzaga 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 Gonzaga.
- The graduation rate at Gonzaga is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (83% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Gonzaga University earn on average $9,300 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($61,600 vs. $52,300)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $594 lower median federal student loan debt than Gonzaga graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,394)
- PLU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Gonzaga graduates. ($266 vs. $272)
- More Gonzaga graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/