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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland Washington State| Principia College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Principia College | PLU | ||
| Location | Elsah, Illinois | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 338 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | principiacollege.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Principia College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $32,250 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,250 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,370 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,904 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,096 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 90% | 99% |
Admission |
Principia College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 268 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 119 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 44.4% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 70.6% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.34 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/23 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1250 | 988/1258 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Principia College | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Principia College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | N/A | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | - | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | N/A | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | N/A | $266 |
Diversity |
Principia College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | - | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 0% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 0% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 7% | ||
| % International | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Principia College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 3% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Principia College | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Principia College based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 338 students)
Principia College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Principia College or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 53.4% more expensive to attend than Principia College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $32,250.00)
- Out of state tuition is 53.4% higher at PLU than Principia College ($49,472.00 vs. $32,250.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Principia College than PLU ($14,904 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 7.4% lower than costs at Principia College ($12,446 vs. $13,370)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Principia College (99% vs. 90%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 23% larger than aid received Principia College ($39,464 vs. $32,096)
Principia College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Principia College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Principia College .
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Principia College (3.34)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Principia College (44.4%)
Principia College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Principia College 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 Principia College.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/