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Lewis and Clark Reed Gonzaga SPU UW-Seattle Oxy Whitworth University St Olaf Oberlin Macalester College SCU Seattle U| Pacific Lutheran University | Whitman College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLU | Whitman College | ||
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Walla Walla, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 2,633 | 1,493 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | #84 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | plu.edu | whitman.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLU | Whitman College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,472 | $58,200 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,472 | $58,200 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,826 | $14,220 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,825 | $39,935 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,435 | $32,047 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 94% |
Admission |
PLU | Whitman College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,334 | 5,497 | ||
| Admitted | 2,964 | 2,622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.9% | 47.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.7% | 12.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 27/30 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1253/1423 | 1293/1473 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
PLU | Whitman College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLU | Whitman College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 86% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,300 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 93% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,800 | $17,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $180 |
Diversity |
PLU | Whitman College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
PLU | Whitman College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 27% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 59% | ||
Campus |
PLU | Whitman College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Whitman College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,493 students)
PLU vs. Whitman College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLU or Whitman College?
- Whitman College is 17.6% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($58,200.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.6% higher at Whitman College than Pacific Lutheran University ($58,200.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Whitman College ($24,825 vs. $39,935)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 20.2% lower than costs at Whitman College ($11,826 vs. $14,220)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Whitman College (99% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 13.7% larger than aid received Whitman College ($36,435 vs. $32,047)
PLU vs. Whitman College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLU or Whitman College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Whitman College or PLU .
- The average SAT score at Whitman College (1314) is 197 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming Whitman College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Whitman College (3.68)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Whitman College (47.7%)
PLU vs. Whitman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLU or Whitman College? 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 Whitman College and PLU.
- The graduation rate at Whitman College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (86% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Whitman College earn on average $4,600 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $52,300)
- Whitman College students graduate with a $8,300 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($17,500 vs. $25,800)
- Whitman College graduates are paying $86 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($180 vs. $266)
- More Whitman College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (93% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/