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Seattle U UW-Seattle PLU George Fox University St Olaf Coe College Whitworth University Western Washington University Central Washington University Azusa Pacific University Washington State UWB| Luther College | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Luther- Norse | SPU | ||
| Location | Decorah, IA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,463 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #299 | #246 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | luther.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Luther- Norse | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,650 | $37,965 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,650 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,180 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,790 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $38,042 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Luther- Norse | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,447 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 1,793 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 73.3% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.6% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1098/1318 | 1050/1320 | ||
| 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 | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
Luther- Norse | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Luther- Norse | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 69% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,000 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $264 |
Diversity |
Luther- Norse | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 8% | ||
| % International | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Luther- Norse | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 58% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Luther- Norse | SPU | ||
| 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
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Luther- Norse based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 1,463 students)
Luther- Norse vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Luther- Norse or SPU?
- Luther College is 30.8% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($49,650.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.8% higher at Luther- Norse than Seattle Pacific University ($49,650.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Luther College than SPU ($24,790 vs. $26,155)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Luther College are 38.6% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($11,180 vs. $15,498)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Luther College than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Luther College students is 35.5% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($38,042 vs. $28,070)
Luther- Norse vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Luther- Norse or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Luther- Norse .
- The average SAT score at Luther College (1179) is 34 points higher than at SPU (1145)
- Incoming Luther- Norse students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at SPU (26)
- Accepted freshman Luther- Norse students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Luther- Norse (73.3%)
Luther- Norse vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Luther- Norse or SPU? 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 SPU and Luther- Norse.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Luther College (74% vs. 69%)
- Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $400 more per year than Luther- Norse graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $50,000)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Luther- Norse graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
- SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Luther- Norse graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
- More Luther- Norse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SPU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/