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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University USF UC Davis University of Redlands Gonzaga Saint Martin's University San Jose State University of Puget Sound Concordia University-Irvine| Saint Marys College of California | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Saint Marys College of California | PLU | ||
| Location | Moraga, CA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,775 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #289 | #429 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | stmarys-ca.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Saint Marys College of California | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,634 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,634 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,900 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $31,615 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $42,080 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Saint Marys College of California | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,308 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 3,816 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.6% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.2% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.6 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1253 | 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 | Jan 15, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Saint Marys College of California | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Saint Marys College of California | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $66,800 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $266 |
Diversity |
Saint Marys College of California | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 46% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Saint Marys College of California | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 84% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Saint Marys College of California | 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
- Saint Marys College of California is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (2,775 students vs. 2,737 students)
Saint Marys College of California vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Saint Marys College of California or PLU?
- Saint Marys College of California is 12.5% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($55,634.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.5% higher at Saint Marys College of California than Pacific Lutheran University ($55,634.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Saint Marys College of California ($23,841 vs. $31,615)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 35.8% lower than costs at Saint Marys College of California ($12,446 vs. $16,900)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Marys College of California than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Marys College of California students is 6.6% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($42,080 vs. $39,464)
Saint Marys College of California vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Saint Marys College of California or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Saint Marys College of California .
- The average SAT score at Saint Marys College of California (1124) is 7 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming Saint Marys College of California students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Saint Marys College of California (3.6)
- Saint Marys College of California has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than PLU (80.5%)
Saint Marys College of California vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Saint Marys College of California 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 Saint Marys College of California.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Saint Marys College of California (66% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from Saint Marys College of California earn on average $14,500 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($66,800 vs. $52,300)
- Saint Marys College of California students graduate with a $800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,800)
- Saint Marys College of California graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($258 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Marys College of California 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/