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St Olaf SPU Oberlin Beloit College Macalester College UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Denison IWU Whitman College Kenyon| Pacific Lutheran University | Lawrence University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLU | Lawrence | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Appleton, WI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,633 | 1,426 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | #207 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | plu.edu | lawrence.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLU | Lawrence | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,472 | $53,667 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,472 | $53,667 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,826 | $11,520 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,825 | $26,368 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,435 | $40,089 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
PLU | Lawrence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,334 | 2,943 | ||
| Admitted | 2,964 | 2,127 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.9% | 72.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.7% | 17.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.52 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 27/30 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1253/1423 | 1210/1460 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
PLU | Lawrence | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 8:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLU | Lawrence | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,300 | $45,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,800 | $27,350 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $282 |
Diversity |
PLU | Lawrence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 70% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
PLU | Lawrence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 22% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 68% | ||
Campus |
PLU | Lawrence | ||
| 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 Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,426 students)
PLU vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLU or Lawrence?
- Lawrence University is 8.5% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($53,667.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8.5% higher at Lawrence than Pacific Lutheran University ($53,667.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Lawrence ($24,825 vs. $26,368)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 2.7% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($11,520 vs. $11,826)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lawrence University than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 10% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($40,089 vs. $36,435)
PLU vs. Lawrence Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLU or Lawrence? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lawrence or PLU .
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Lawrence (3.52)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Lawrence (72.3%)
PLU vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLU or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence and PLU.
- The graduation rate at Lawrence is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (77% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $6,700 more per year than Lawrence graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $45,600)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,550 lower median federal student loan debt than Lawrence graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,350)
- PLU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Lawrence graduates. ($266 vs. $282)
- More Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/