PLU vs. UW-Seattle

Should I go to Pacific Lutheran University or University of Washington Seattle Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PLU or UW-Seattle 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. University of Washington Seattle Campus comparison
Pacific Lutheran University University of Washington Seattle Campus College 3 College 4
Pacific Lutheran University University of Washington Seattle Campus
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Overview

PLU UW-Seattle
Location Tacoma, WA Seattle, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 2,633 52,319
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #311 #87
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website plu.edu washington.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PLU UW-Seattle
Tuition (In State) $49,472 $11,189
Tuition (Out of State) $49,472 $39,687
Room & Board $11,826 $16,068
Avg Net Price $24,825 $10,603
Avg Grant Aid $36,435 $14,731
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 44%

Admission

PLU UW-Seattle
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,334 52,488
Admitted 2,964 24,942
Acceptance Rate 88.9% 47.5%
Enrolled % 17.7% 29.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.82
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/30 27/33
SAT Range 1253/1423 1200/1453
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025 Nov 16, 2024

Academics

PLU UW-Seattle
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

PLU UW-Seattle
Graduation Rate 66% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,300 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,800 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $266 $155

Diversity

PLU UW-Seattle
% Men 36% 47%
% Women 64% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 42%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 4% 15%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

PLU UW-Seattle
% In-State 74% 60%
% Out-of-State 22% 24%

Campus

PLU UW-Seattle
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Washington Seattle Campus is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (52,319 students vs. 2,633 students)

PLU vs. UW-Seattle Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLU or UW-Seattle?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 342.1% more expensive to attend than UW-Seattle for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $11,189.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.7% higher at PLU than University of Washington Seattle Campus ($49,472.00 vs. $39,687.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Washington Seattle Campus than PLU ($10,603 vs. $24,825)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 35.9% lower than costs at University of Washington Seattle Campus ($11,826 vs. $16,068)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than University of Washington Seattle Campus (99% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 147.3% larger than aid received University of Washington Seattle Campus ($36,435 vs. $14,731)

PLU vs. UW-Seattle Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PLU or UW-Seattle? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW-Seattle or PLU .

  • The average SAT score at University of Washington Seattle Campus (1258) is 141 points higher than at PLU (1117)
  • Incoming UW-Seattle students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman UW-Seattle students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than UW-Seattle (47.5%)

PLU vs. UW-Seattle Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PLU or UW-Seattle? 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 UW-Seattle and PLU.

  • The graduation rate at UW-Seattle is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (80% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from University of Washington Seattle Campus earn on average $13,500 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $52,300)
  • University of Washington Seattle Campus students graduate with a $10,800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($15,000 vs. $25,800)
  • UW-Seattle graduates are paying $111 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($155 vs. $266)
  • More UW-Seattle 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/