PLU vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University

Should I go to Pacific Lutheran University or John Paul the Great Catholic University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PLU or John Paul the Great Catholic University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Pacific Lutheran University vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University comparison
Pacific Lutheran University John Paul the Great Catholic University College 3 College 4
Pacific Lutheran University John Paul the Great Catholic University
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Overview

PLU John Paul the Great Catholic University
Location Tacoma, WA San Diego, CA
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 2,737 298
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #429
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website plu.edu jpcatholic.com
Team Colors                    

Costs

PLU John Paul the Great Catholic University
Tuition (In State) $49,472 $28,500
Tuition (Out of State) $49,472 $28,500
Room & Board $12,446 $15,099
Avg Net Price $23,841 $31,811
Avg Grant Aid $39,464 $15,709
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

PLU John Paul the Great Catholic University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,139 280
Admitted 3,333 222
Acceptance Rate 80.5% 79.3%Open
Enrolled % 18.7% 33.8%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 21/27
SAT Range 988/1258 1090/1260
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

PLU John Paul the Great Catholic University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (44%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (26%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)

Outcomes

PLU John Paul the Great Catholic University
Graduation Rate 66% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,300 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 74% -
Median Student Loan Debt $25,800 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $266 $266

Diversity

PLU John Paul the Great Catholic University
% Men 4% 0%
% Women 9% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 54%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 23%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 3%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 12%

Students

PLU John Paul the Great Catholic University
% In-State 80% 49%
% Out-of-State 12% 43%

Campus

PLU John Paul the Great Catholic University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than John Paul the Great Catholic University based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 298 students)

PLU vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLU or John Paul the Great Catholic University?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 73.6% more expensive to attend than John Paul the Great Catholic University for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 73.6% higher at PLU than John Paul the Great Catholic University ($49,472.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than John Paul the Great Catholic University ($23,841 vs. $31,811)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 21.3% lower than costs at John Paul the Great Catholic University ($12,446 vs. $15,099)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than John Paul the Great Catholic University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 151.2% larger than aid received John Paul the Great Catholic University ($39,464 vs. $15,709)

PLU vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PLU or John Paul the Great Catholic University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between John Paul the Great Catholic University or PLU .

  • The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 11 points higher than at John Paul the Great Catholic University (1106)
  • Incoming PLU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at John Paul the Great Catholic University (25)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at John Paul the Great Catholic University (3.56)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than John Paul the Great Catholic University (79.3%)

PLU vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PLU or John Paul the Great Catholic University? 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 John Paul the Great Catholic University and PLU.

  • John Paul the Great Catholic University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($25,750 vs. $25,800)
  • John Paul the Great Catholic University and PLU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($266 vs. $266)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/