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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University Campbell University University of Puget Sound NC State Pacific Whitman College Wingate University| Meredith College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Meredith | PLU | ||
| Location | Raleigh, NC | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,576 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #344 | #429 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | meredith.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Meredith | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $43,816 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $43,816 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,920 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,405 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,095 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
Meredith | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,563 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 1,167 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.8% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1110/1260 | 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 | Feb 15, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Meredith | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Meredith | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,000 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $266 |
Diversity |
Meredith | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Meredith | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Meredith | 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 Meredith based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 1,576 students)
Meredith vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Meredith or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 12.9% more expensive to attend than Meredith for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $43,816.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.9% higher at PLU than Meredith College ($49,472.00 vs. $43,816.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Meredith College than PLU ($23,405 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 3.8% lower than costs at Meredith College ($12,446 vs. $12,920)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Meredith College as Pacific Lutheran University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 23% larger than aid received Meredith College ($39,464 vs. $32,095)
Meredith vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Meredith or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Meredith .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 81 points higher than at Meredith (1036)
- Incoming PLU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Meredith (23)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Meredith (3.52)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Meredith (74.7%)
Meredith vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Meredith 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 Meredith.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Meredith College (66% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $12,300 more per year than Meredith graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $40,000)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Meredith graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Meredith graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Meredith students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/