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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University USF Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland| Mills College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mills College | PLU | ||
| Location | Oakland, CA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 817 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mills.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mills College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,340 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,340 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,369 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 99% |
Admission |
Mills College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | - | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.9% | |||
| Enrolled % | 17.7% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.57 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 30/31 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1378/1413 | 1253/1423 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Mills College | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mills College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 57% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $266 |
Diversity |
Mills College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 91% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 24% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 10% | 7% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Mills College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Mills 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 Mills College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 817 students)
Mills College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mills College or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 68.6% more expensive to attend than Mills College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $29,340.00)
- Out of state tuition is 68.6% higher at PLU than Mills College ($49,472.00 vs. $29,340.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 21.5% lower than costs at Mills College ($11,826 vs. $14,369)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Mills College (99% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is ?% larger than aid received Mills College ($36,435 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, Mills College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Mills College .
- The average SAT score at Mills College (1183) is 66 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming Mills College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Mills College (3.57)
Mills College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mills 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 Mills College.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Mills College (66% vs. 57%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $7,900 more per year than Mills College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $44,400)
- Mills College students graduate with a $2,300 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $25,800)
- Mills College graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($242 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mills College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/