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Idaho Central Washington University Boise State UW-Seattle Western Washington University Portland State University UWB Gonzaga SPU OSU Seattle U UO| Pacific Lutheran University | Washington State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PLU | Washington State | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Pullman, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 2,633 | 27,539 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | #386 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | plu.edu | wsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLU | Washington State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,472 | $10,708 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,472 | $26,392 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,826 | $12,396 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,825 | $17,911 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,435 | $10,689 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 83% |
Admission |
PLU | Washington State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,334 | 19,401 | ||
| Admitted | 2,964 | 16,123 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.9% | 83.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.7% | 24.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 27/30 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1253/1423 | 1020/1210 | ||
| 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 | Jan 31, 2025 |
Academics |
PLU | Washington State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLU | Washington State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,300 | $54,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,800 | $20,429 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $211 |
Diversity |
PLU | Washington State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 8% | ||
| % International | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
PLU | Washington State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 15% | ||
Campus |
PLU | Washington State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Washington State University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (27,539 students vs. 2,633 students)
PLU vs. Washington State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLU or Washington State?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 362% more expensive to attend than Washington State for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $10,708.00)
- Out of state tuition is 87.5% higher at PLU than Washington State University ($49,472.00 vs. $26,392.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington State University than PLU ($17,911 vs. $24,825)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 4.8% lower than costs at Washington State University ($11,826 vs. $12,396)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Washington State University (99% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 240.9% larger than aid received Washington State University ($36,435 vs. $10,689)
PLU vs. Washington State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLU or Washington State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Washington State or PLU .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 78 points higher than at Washington State (1039)
- Incoming PLU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Washington State (23)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Washington State (3.5)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Washington State (83.1%)
PLU vs. Washington State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLU or Washington State? 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 Washington State and PLU.
- The graduation rate at Washington State is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (67% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Washington State University earn on average $2,100 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $52,300)
- Washington State University students graduate with a $5,371 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($20,429 vs. $25,800)
- Washington State graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($211 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Washington State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 71%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/