Lasell College vs. PLU

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

Lasell College PLU
Location Newton, MA Tacoma, WA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,527 2,737
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #669 #429
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lasell.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lasell College PLU
Tuition (In State) $26,000 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $26,000 $49,472
Room & Board $13,500 $12,446
Avg Net Price $28,477 $23,841
Avg Grant Aid $34,921 $39,464
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Lasell College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,060 4,139
Admitted 2,517 3,333
Acceptance Rate 82.3% 80.5%
Enrolled % 12.5% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.71
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/26 21/27
SAT Range 1085/1260 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

Lasell College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Lasell College PLU
Graduation Rate 47% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Lasell College PLU
% Men 9% 4%
% Women 14% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 68%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Lasell College PLU
% In-State 57% 80%
% Out-of-State 39% 12%

Campus

Lasell 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 Lasell College based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 1,527 students)

Lasell College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lasell College or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 90.3% more expensive to attend than Lasell College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $26,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 90.3% higher at PLU than Lasell College ($49,472.00 vs. $26,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Lasell College ($23,841 vs. $28,477)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 8.5% lower than costs at Lasell College ($12,446 vs. $13,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lasell College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 13% larger than aid received Lasell College ($39,464 vs. $34,921)

Lasell College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 151 points higher than at Lasell College (966)
  • Incoming PLU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Lasell College (21)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Lasell College (3.12)
  • Lasell College has a higher acceptance rate (82.3%) than PLU (80.5%)

Lasell College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lasell 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 Lasell College.

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Lasell College (66% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $9,200 more per year than Lasell 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 Lasell College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Lasell College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lasell 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/