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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Marymount University Gonzaga Saint Thomas Aquinas College Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Iona College Whitman College| Mount Saint Mary College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mount Saint Mary College | PLU | ||
| Location | Newburgh, NY | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,246 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #495 | #429 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | msmc.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mount Saint Mary College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,820 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,820 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,820 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,588 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,222 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
Mount Saint Mary College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,229 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 1,838 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.5% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.2% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 1090/1255 | 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 |
Mount Saint Mary College | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mount Saint Mary College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,200 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $266 |
Diversity |
Mount Saint Mary College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 7% | ||
| % International | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 11% | 1% |
Students |
Mount Saint Mary College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Mount Saint Mary College | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Mount Saint Mary College based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 2,246 students)
Mount Saint Mary College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mount Saint Mary College or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 24.2% more expensive to attend than Mount Saint Mary College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $39,820.00)
- Out of state tuition is 24.2% higher at PLU than Mount Saint Mary College ($49,472.00 vs. $39,820.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Mount Saint Mary College ($23,841 vs. $24,588)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 51.2% lower than costs at Mount Saint Mary College ($12,446 vs. $18,820)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mount Saint Mary College as Pacific Lutheran University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 45% larger than aid received Mount Saint Mary College ($39,464 vs. $27,222)
Mount Saint Mary College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mount Saint Mary College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Mount Saint Mary College .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 135 points higher than at Mount Saint Mary College (982)
- Incoming PLU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Mount Saint Mary College (22)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Mount Saint Mary College (3.3)
- Mount Saint Mary College has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than PLU (80.5%)
Mount Saint Mary College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mount Saint Mary 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 Mount Saint Mary College.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Mount Saint Mary College (66% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $3,100 more per year than Mount Saint Mary College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $49,200)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Mount Saint Mary College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Mount Saint Mary College graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Saint Mary College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/