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UW-Seattle Washington State UO OSU EWU Central Washington University SPU Seattle U Gonzaga Portland State University UWB Whitworth University| Pacific Lutheran University | Western Washington University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLU | Western Washington University | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Bellingham, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,737 | 14,651 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | #364 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | plu.edu | wwu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLU | Western Washington University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,472 | $7,997 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,472 | $26,564 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,446 | $14,915 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,841 | $22,096 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $39,464 | $7,041 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 93% |
Admission |
PLU | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,139 | 14,243 | ||
| Admitted | 3,333 | 13,005 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.5% | 91.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 24.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.46 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 988/1258 | 1110/1350 | ||
| 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 31, 2026 |
Academics |
PLU | Western Washington University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLU | Western Washington University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,300 | $48,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,800 | $19,413 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $200 |
Diversity |
PLU | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 9% | ||
| % International | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
PLU | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 16% | ||
Campus |
PLU | Western Washington University | ||
| 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
- Western Washington University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (14,651 students vs. 2,737 students)
PLU vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLU or Western Washington University?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 518.6% more expensive to attend than Western Washington University for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $7,997.00)
- Out of state tuition is 86.2% higher at PLU than Western Washington University ($49,472.00 vs. $26,564.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Washington University than PLU ($22,096 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 19.8% lower than costs at Western Washington University ($12,446 vs. $14,915)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Western Washington University (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 460.5% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($39,464 vs. $7,041)
PLU vs. Western Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLU or Western Washington University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Western Washington University or PLU .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 3 points higher than at Western Washington University (1114)
- Incoming PLU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Western Washington University (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Western Washington University (3.46)
- Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than PLU (80.5%)
PLU vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLU or Western Washington University? 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 Western Washington University and PLU.
- The graduation rate at Western Washington University is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (73% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $4,300 more per year than Western Washington University graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $48,000)
- Western Washington University students graduate with a $6,387 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($19,413 vs. $25,800)
- Western Washington University graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($200 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Washington University 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/