Hanover College vs. PLU

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

Hanover College PLU
Location Hanover, IN Tacoma, WA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,157 2,737
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #358 #429
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hanover.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Hanover College PLU
Tuition (In State) $42,003 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $42,003 $49,472
Room & Board $13,558 $12,446
Avg Net Price $22,929 $23,841
Avg Grant Aid $33,304 $39,464
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Hanover College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,702 4,139
Admitted 2,269 3,333
Acceptance Rate 84% 80.5%
Enrolled % 11.6% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/30 21/27
SAT Range 1070/1240 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 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

Hanover College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Hanover College PLU
Graduation Rate 71% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Hanover College PLU
% Men 7% 4%
% Women 10% 9%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 68%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 2% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Hanover College PLU
% In-State 67% 80%
% Out-of-State 28% 12%

Campus

Hanover 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 Hanover College based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 1,157 students)

Hanover College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hanover College or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 17.8% more expensive to attend than Hanover College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $42,003.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.8% higher at PLU than Hanover College ($49,472.00 vs. $42,003.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hanover College than PLU ($22,929 vs. $23,841)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 8.9% lower than costs at Hanover College ($12,446 vs. $13,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hanover College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 18.5% larger than aid received Hanover College ($39,464 vs. $33,304)

Hanover College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 14 points higher than at Hanover College (1103)
  • Incoming Hanover College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Hanover College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • Hanover College has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than PLU (80.5%)

Hanover College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hanover 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 Hanover College.

  • The graduation rate at Hanover College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (71% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Hanover College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $48,600)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Hanover College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Hanover College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hanover College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)

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