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SPU George Fox University UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University OSU Linfield Portland State University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Whitman College| Pacific University | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Pacific | PLU | ||
| Location | Forest Grove, OR | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,559 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #354 | #311 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pacificu.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Pacific | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $50,884 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $50,884 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,408 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,472 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,340 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
Pacific | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,759 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 2,546 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.3% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.4% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1350 | 1253/1423 | ||
| 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 25, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Pacific | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Pacific | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,800 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,156 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $270 | $266 |
Diversity |
Pacific | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 32% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 68% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 52% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 12% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Pacific | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 38% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Pacific | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (3,559 students vs. 2,633 students)
Pacific vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pacific or PLU?
- Pacific University is 2.9% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($50,884.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.9% higher at Pacific than Pacific Lutheran University ($50,884.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Pacific ($24,825 vs. $33,472)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 21.8% lower than costs at Pacific University ($11,826 vs. $14,408)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Pacific University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 9.3% larger than aid received Pacific University ($36,435 vs. $33,340)
Pacific vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Pacific or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Pacific .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 27 points higher than at Pacific (1090)
- Incoming PLU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Pacific (24)
- Accepted freshman Pacific students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at PLU (3.71)
- Pacific has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than PLU (88.9%)
Pacific vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Pacific or PLU? 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 PLU and Pacific.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Pacific University (66% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $5,500 more per year than Pacific graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $46,800)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $356 lower median federal student loan debt than Pacific graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,156)
- PLU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Pacific graduates. ($266 vs. $270)
- More Pacific graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/