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Seattle U UW-Seattle George Fox University Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University Western Washington University Central Washington University University of Puget Sound Azusa Pacific University Washington State UWB| Pacific Lutheran University | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PLU | SPU | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,737 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | #246 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | plu.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLU | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,472 | $37,965 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,472 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,446 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,841 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $39,464 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
PLU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,139 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 3,333 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.5% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 988/1258 | 1050/1320 | ||
| 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 | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
PLU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLU | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,300 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,800 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $264 |
Diversity |
PLU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 8% | ||
| % International | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
PLU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 26% | ||
Campus |
PLU | SPU | ||
| 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 SPU based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 2,659 students)
PLU vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLU or SPU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 30.3% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.3% higher at PLU than Seattle Pacific University ($49,472.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than SPU ($23,841 vs. $26,155)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 24.5% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($12,446 vs. $15,498)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Seattle Pacific University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 40.6% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($39,464 vs. $28,070)
PLU vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLU or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or PLU .
- The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 28 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming SPU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than PLU (80.5%)
PLU vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLU or SPU? 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 SPU and PLU.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (74% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $1,900 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $50,400)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $197 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($25,603 vs. $25,800)
- SPU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($264 vs. $266)
- More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/