Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland Washington State| Pacific Lutheran University | Patrick Henry College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PLU | PHC | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Purcellville, Virginia | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 2,633 | 409 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Non-Denominational | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | plu.edu | phc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLU | PHC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,472 | $28,400 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,472 | $28,400 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,826 | $11,020 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,825 | $26,095 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,435 | $13,531 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 97% |
Admission |
PLU | PHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,334 | 236 | ||
| Admitted | 2,964 | 179 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.9% | 75.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.7% | 57.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 27/30 | 27/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1253/1423 | 1233/1440 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 | Jul 15, 2025 |
Academics |
PLU | PHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 15:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
PLU | PHC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,300 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | - | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,800 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | N/A |
Diversity |
PLU | PHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | - | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 0% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 0% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 0% | ||
| % International | 4% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
PLU | PHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 16% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 83% | ||
Campus |
PLU | PHC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than PHC based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 409 students)
PLU vs. PHC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLU or PHC?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 74.2% more expensive to attend than PHC for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $28,400.00)
- Out of state tuition is 74.2% higher at PLU than Patrick Henry College ($49,472.00 vs. $28,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than PHC ($24,825 vs. $26,095)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Patrick Henry College are 7.3% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($11,020 vs. $11,826)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Patrick Henry College (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 169.3% larger than aid received Patrick Henry College ($36,435 vs. $13,531)
PLU vs. PHC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLU or PHC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PHC or PLU .
- Accepted freshman PHC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at PLU (3.71)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than PHC (75.8%)
PLU vs. PHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLU or PHC? 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 PHC and PLU.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/