Marywood vs. PLU

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

Marywood PLU
Location Scranton, PA Tacoma, WA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,850 2,737
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #644 #429
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website marywood.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Marywood PLU
Tuition (In State) $37,700 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $37,700 $49,472
Room & Board $15,100 $12,446
Avg Net Price $24,712 $23,841
Avg Grant Aid $27,875 $39,464
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Marywood PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,136 4,139
Admitted 2,625 3,333
Acceptance Rate 83.7% 80.5%
Enrolled % 16.1% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 21/27
SAT Range 1050/1240 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

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Marywood PLU
% Men 11% 4%
% Women 23% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 68%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

Marywood PLU
% In-State 74% 80%
% Out-of-State 26% 12%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Marywood University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (2,850 students vs. 2,737 students)

Marywood vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marywood or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 31.2% more expensive to attend than Marywood for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $37,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.2% higher at PLU than Marywood University ($49,472.00 vs. $37,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Marywood ($23,841 vs. $24,712)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 21.3% lower than costs at Marywood University ($12,446 vs. $15,100)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marywood University than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 41.6% larger than aid received Marywood University ($39,464 vs. $27,875)

Marywood vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 92 points higher than at Marywood (1025)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Marywood (3.58)
  • Marywood has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than PLU (80.5%)

Marywood vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Marywood 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 Marywood.

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Marywood University (66% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $11,200 more per year than Marywood graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $41,100)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Marywood graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans 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/