Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Ursinus College Skidmore College SPU Lafayette College Hobart William Smith Colleges Lehigh Drexel Bucknell UW-Seattle Fordham Syracuse Union College| Muhlenberg College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Muhlenberg College | PLU | ||
| Location | Allentown, PA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,959 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #88 | #311 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | muhlenberg.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Muhlenberg College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $57,270 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $57,270 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,440 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $32,926 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $38,412 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
Muhlenberg College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,329 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 2,836 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 65.5% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.8% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1200/1400 | 1253/1423 | ||
| 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 1, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Muhlenberg College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Muhlenberg College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 86% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $63,700 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 84% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,490 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $273 | $266 |
Diversity |
Muhlenberg College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 75% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 1% |
Students |
Muhlenberg College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 31% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,959 students)
Muhlenberg College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Muhlenberg College or PLU?
- Muhlenberg College is 15.8% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($57,270.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 15.8% higher at Muhlenberg College than Pacific Lutheran University ($57,270.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Muhlenberg College ($24,825 vs. $32,926)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 13.6% lower than costs at Muhlenberg College ($11,826 vs. $13,440)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Muhlenberg College (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Muhlenberg College students is 5.4% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($38,412 vs. $36,435)
Muhlenberg College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Muhlenberg College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Muhlenberg College .
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Muhlenberg College (3.44)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Muhlenberg College (65.5%)
Muhlenberg College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg College.
- The graduation rate at Muhlenberg College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (86% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Muhlenberg College earn on average $11,400 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($63,700 vs. $52,300)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $690 lower median federal student loan debt than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,490)
- PLU graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($266 vs. $273)
- More Muhlenberg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/