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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound MSU Billings Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland| Rocky Mountain College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
RMC | PLU | ||
| Location | Billings, MT | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 991 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | United Church of Christ | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | rocky.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
RMC | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $32,282 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,282 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,576 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,173 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $25,571 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
RMC | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,471 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 1,072 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72.9% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.7% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/24 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 990/1240 | 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 |
RMC | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
RMC | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,800 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $266 |
Diversity |
RMC | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
RMC | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 43% | 12% | ||
Campus |
RMC | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than RMC based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 991 students)
RMC vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, RMC or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 53.2% more expensive to attend than RMC for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $32,282.00)
- Out of state tuition is 53.2% higher at PLU than Rocky Mountain College ($49,472.00 vs. $32,282.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rocky Mountain College than PLU ($19,173 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rocky Mountain College are 30% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($9,576 vs. $12,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Rocky Mountain College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 54.3% larger than aid received Rocky Mountain College ($39,464 vs. $25,571)
RMC vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, RMC or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or RMC .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 80 points higher than at RMC (1037)
- Incoming PLU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at RMC (23)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at RMC (3.42)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than RMC (72.9%)
RMC vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, RMC 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 RMC.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Rocky Mountain College (66% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $5,500 more per year than RMC graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $46,800)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than RMC graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than RMC graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RMC students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/