Marywood vs. PLU

Deciding between Marywood University and Pacific Lutheran University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Marywood University
Pacific Lutheran University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Marywood Scranton, PA
  • PLU Tacoma, WA
  • Setting
  • Marywood Small City
  • PLU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Marywood 2,530
  • PLU 2,797
  • Type
  • Marywood Private 4 Year
  • PLU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Marywood #452
  • PLU #395
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Marywood Roman Catholic
  • PLU Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • Marywood Non-profit
  • PLU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Marywood
  • PLU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Marywood $41,420
  • PLU $52,254
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Marywood $41,420
  • PLU $52,254
  • Room & Board
  • Marywood $15,800
  • PLU $13,008
  • Average Net Price
  • Marywood $26,217
  • PLU $22,299
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Marywood $29,574
  • PLU $40,573
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Marywood 100%
  • PLU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Marywood 4,236
  • PLU 4,992
  • Admitted
  • Marywood 2,566
  • PLU 3,895
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Marywood 60.6%
  • PLU 78%
  • Enrolled
  • Marywood 17.1%
  • PLU 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Marywood 1160
  • PLU 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • Marywood 24
  • PLU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Marywood 3.58
  • PLU 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Marywood A-
  • PLU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Marywood Challenging
  • PLU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Marywood Low
  • PLU
  • ACT Range
  • Marywood 18/30
  • PLU 22/28
  • SAT Range
  • Marywood 1060/1250
  • PLU 1040/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Marywood Test optional
  • PLU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Marywood
  • PLU Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Marywood 11:1
  • PLU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Marywood
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • PLU
    • Business (14%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Education (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Marywood 62%
  • PLU 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Marywood $41,100
  • PLU $52,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Marywood 70%
  • PLU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Marywood $27,000
  • PLU $25,800
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Marywood $279
  • PLU $266

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Marywood 32%
  • PLU 35%
  • % Women
  • Marywood 68%
  • PLU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Marywood Very Low
  • PLU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Marywood No
  • PLU No
  • % White
  • Marywood 79%
  • PLU 68%
  • % Asian
  • Marywood 2%
  • PLU 8%
  • % Black
  • Marywood 2%
  • PLU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Marywood 6%
  • PLU 8%
  • % Native American
  • Marywood 0%
  • PLU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Marywood 0%
  • PLU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Marywood 2%
  • PLU 7%
  • % International
  • Marywood 1%
  • PLU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Marywood 8%
  • PLU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Marywood 69%
  • PLU 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Marywood 31%
  • PLU 12%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Marywood Yes
  • PLU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Marywood No
  • PLU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Marywood Yes
  • PLU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Marywood No
  • PLU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Marywood Yes
  • PLU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Marywood University in Scranton, PA with Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pacific Lutheran University is larger than Marywood based on total student enrollment (2,797 students vs. 2,530 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Marywood University is located in Scranton, PA (Small City setting); Pacific Lutheran University is in Tacoma, WA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Marywood University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific Lutheran University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Marywood University 11:1; Pacific Lutheran University 12:1.

Marywood vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marywood or PLU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Marywood ($22,299 vs. $26,217).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 17.7% lower than at Marywood University ($13,008 vs. $15,800).
  • Pacific Lutheran University is 26.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Marywood (about $10,834 more per year; $52,254.00 vs. $41,420.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.2% higher at PLU than at Marywood University (about $10,834 more per year; $52,254.00 vs. $41,420.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marywood University than at Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 37.2% larger than aid received by Marywood University students ($40,573 vs. $29,574).

Marywood vs. PLU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marywood or PLU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between PLU and Marywood.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Marywood University (1160) is 10 points higher than at PLU (1150).
  • Incoming PLU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Marywood).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Marywood University 1060/1250; Pacific Lutheran University 1040/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Marywood University 18/30; Pacific Lutheran University 22/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marywood - Test optional; PLU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PLU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Marywood (3.58).
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (78%) than Marywood (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Marywood vs. 14.1% at PLU.

Marywood vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marywood and PLU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Pacific Lutheran University's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Marywood University's (62%).
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Marywood graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,300 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pacific Lutheran University graduates have a $1,200 lower median loan debt than Marywood graduates ($25,800 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, PLU graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marywood graduates ($266 vs. $279).
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marywood students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.