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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Augustana Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Loras College Pacific Whitman College ISU| Saint Ambrose University | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
St. Ambrose University | PLU | ||
| Location | Davenport, IA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,703 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #437 | #429 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sau.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
St. Ambrose University | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $35,318 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,318 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,348 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,578 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,559 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
St. Ambrose University | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,456 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 2,534 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 73.3% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.7% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.39 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | 988/1258 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
St. Ambrose University | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
St. Ambrose University | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 62% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,300 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,764 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $266 |
Diversity |
St. Ambrose University | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
St. Ambrose University | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 37% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 60% | 12% | ||
Campus |
St. Ambrose University | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than St. Ambrose University based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 2,703 students)
St. Ambrose University vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, St. Ambrose University or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 40.1% more expensive to attend than St. Ambrose University for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $35,318.00)
- Out of state tuition is 40.1% higher at PLU than Saint Ambrose University ($49,472.00 vs. $35,318.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Ambrose University than PLU ($23,578 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Ambrose University are 0.8% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($12,348 vs. $12,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Ambrose University than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 48.6% larger than aid received Saint Ambrose University ($39,464 vs. $26,559)
St. Ambrose University vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, St. Ambrose University or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or St. Ambrose University .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 67 points higher than at St. Ambrose University (1050)
- Incoming PLU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at St. Ambrose University (23)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at St. Ambrose University (3.39)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than St. Ambrose University (73.3%)
St. Ambrose University vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, St. Ambrose University 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 St. Ambrose University .
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Saint Ambrose University (66% vs. 62%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $4,000 more per year than St. Ambrose University graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $48,300)
- Saint Ambrose University students graduate with a $36 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($25,764 vs. $25,800)
- Pacific Lutheran University and St. Ambrose University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($266 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Ambrose 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/