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UO Portland State University Colorado State Western Washington University University of Portland OIT SPU Washington State UW-Seattle U of A Auburn Southern Oregon University| Oregon State University | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
OSU | PLU | ||
| Location | Corvallis, OR | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 34,292 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #363 | #311 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | oregonstate.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
OSU | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,425 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,200 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,238 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,163 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,260 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 99% |
Admission |
OSU | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,651 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 21,169 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.5% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.3% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.61 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1120/1370 | 1253/1423 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
OSU | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
OSU | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,900 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $266 |
Diversity |
OSU | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
OSU | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 22% | ||
Campus |
OSU | 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
- Oregon State University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (34,292 students vs. 2,633 students)
OSU vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, OSU or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 374.6% more expensive to attend than OSU for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $10,425.00)
- Out of state tuition is 58.6% higher at PLU than Oregon State University ($49,472.00 vs. $31,200.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Oregon State University than PLU ($21,163 vs. $24,825)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 20.4% lower than costs at Oregon State University ($11,826 vs. $14,238)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Oregon State University (99% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 293.5% larger than aid received Oregon State University ($36,435 vs. $9,260)
OSU vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, OSU or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or OSU .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 4 points higher than at OSU (1113)
- Incoming OSU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at OSU (3.61)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than OSU (82.5%)
OSU vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, OSU 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 OSU.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Oregon State University (66% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from Oregon State University earn on average $1,600 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $52,300)
- Oregon State University students graduate with a $2,300 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $25,800)
- OSU 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 OSU 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/