Knox College vs. PLU

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

Knox College PLU
Location Galesburg, IL Tacoma, WA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,058 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #259 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website knox.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Knox College PLU
Tuition (In State) $52,461 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $52,461 $49,472
Room & Board $10,326 $11,826
Avg Net Price $26,882 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $37,015 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Knox College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,987 3,334
Admitted 2,190 2,964
Acceptance Rate 73.3% 88.9%
Enrolled % 11.3% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.71
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/32 27/30
SAT Range 1160/1420 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

Knox College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Knox College PLU
Graduation Rate 78% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Knox College PLU
% Men 44% 36%
% Women 56% 64%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 52% 68%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 14% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 12% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Knox College PLU
% In-State 36% 74%
% Out-of-State 40% 22%

Campus

Knox 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 Knox College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,058 students)

Knox College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Knox College or PLU?

  • Knox College is 6% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($52,461.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6% higher at Knox College than Pacific Lutheran University ($52,461.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Knox College ($24,825 vs. $26,882)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Knox College are 14.5% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($10,326 vs. $11,826)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Knox College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Knox College students is 1.6% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($37,015 vs. $36,435)

Knox College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Knox College (73.3%)

Knox College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Knox 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 Knox College.

  • The graduation rate at Knox College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (78% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $9,200 more per year than Knox College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $43,100)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Knox College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Knox College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Knox College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 74%)

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