Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UW-Seattle Gonzaga SPU University of Portland UWT UWB USF Washington State Western Washington University UO USD Whitworth University| Pacific Lutheran University | Seattle University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PLU | Seattle U | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,737 | 7,182 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | #129 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | plu.edu | seattleu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLU | Seattle U | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,472 | $53,235 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,472 | $53,235 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,446 | $14,748 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,841 | $37,103 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $39,464 | $31,727 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
PLU | Seattle U | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,139 | 8,976 | ||
| Admitted | 3,333 | 6,826 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.5% | 76% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 15.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.62 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 23/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 988/1258 | 1130/1350 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
PLU | Seattle U | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
PLU | Seattle U | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,300 | $60,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,800 | $24,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $253 |
Diversity |
PLU | Seattle U | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 28% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 44% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 9% |
Students |
PLU | Seattle U | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 43% | ||
Campus |
PLU | Seattle U | ||
| 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
- Seattle University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (7,182 students vs. 2,737 students)
PLU vs. Seattle U Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLU or Seattle U?
- Seattle University is 7.6% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($53,235.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.6% higher at Seattle U than Pacific Lutheran University ($53,235.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Seattle U ($23,841 vs. $37,103)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 18.5% lower than costs at Seattle University ($12,446 vs. $14,748)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Seattle University than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 24.4% larger than aid received Seattle University ($39,464 vs. $31,727)
PLU vs. Seattle U Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLU or Seattle U? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Seattle U or PLU .
- The average SAT score at Seattle University (1192) is 75 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming Seattle U students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Seattle U (3.62)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Seattle U (76%)
PLU vs. Seattle U Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLU or Seattle U? 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 Seattle U and PLU.
- The graduation rate at Seattle U is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (71% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Seattle University earn on average $8,100 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($60,400 vs. $52,300)
- Seattle University students graduate with a $1,300 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($24,500 vs. $25,800)
- Seattle U graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($253 vs. $266)
- More Seattle U graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/