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UWB Seattle U UW-Seattle SPU Whitworth University Central Washington University Washington State University of Puget Sound Gonzaga Saint Martin's University Western Washington University DIT| Pacific Lutheran University | University of Washington Tacoma Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PLU | UWT | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,737 | 4,777 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | plu.edu | washington.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLU | UWT | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,472 | $11,524 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,472 | $40,878 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,446 | $15,948 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,841 | $11,290 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $39,464 | $13,521 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 77% |
Admission |
PLU | UWT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,139 | 3,161 | ||
| Admitted | 3,333 | 2,622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.5% | 82.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 25.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 16/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 988/1258 | 960/1180 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jun 30, 2026 |
Academics |
PLU | UWT | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLU | UWT | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | - | ||
| 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 | UWT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 8% | ||
| % International | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 4% |
Students |
PLU | UWT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 2% | ||
Campus |
PLU | UWT | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Washington Tacoma Campus is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (4,777 students vs. 2,737 students)
PLU vs. UWT Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLU or UWT?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 329.3% more expensive to attend than UWT for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $11,524.00)
- Out of state tuition is 21% higher at PLU than University of Washington Tacoma Campus ($49,472.00 vs. $40,878.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Washington Tacoma Campus than PLU ($11,290 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 28.1% lower than costs at University of Washington Tacoma Campus ($12,446 vs. $15,948)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than University of Washington Tacoma Campus (99% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 191.9% larger than aid received University of Washington Tacoma Campus ($39,464 vs. $13,521)
PLU vs. UWT Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLU or UWT? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UWT or PLU .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 151 points higher than at UWT (966)
- Incoming PLU students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UWT (19)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at UWT (3.41)
- UWT has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than PLU (80.5%)
PLU vs. UWT Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLU or UWT? 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 UWT and PLU.
- Graduates from University of Washington Tacoma Campus earn on average $13,500 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $52,300)
- University of Washington Tacoma Campus students graduate with a $10,800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($15,000 vs. $25,800)
- UWT graduates are paying $111 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($155 vs. $266)
- More UWT 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/