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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Mount Saint Mary College Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland| Saint Thomas Aquinas College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Saint Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
| Location | Sparkill, NY | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,950 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #572 | #429 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | stac.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Saint Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $36,920 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $36,920 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,280 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,257 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $30,197 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Saint Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,251 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 1,851 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.2% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.0 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 920/1270 | 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 | May 1, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Saint Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Saint Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 58% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,000 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $266 |
Diversity |
Saint Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 52% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 22% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 9% | 1% |
Students |
Saint Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 25% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Saint Thomas Aquinas College | 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 Lutheran University is larger than than Saint Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 1,950 students)
Saint Thomas Aquinas College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Saint Thomas Aquinas College or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 34% more expensive to attend than Saint Thomas Aquinas College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $36,920.00)
- Out of state tuition is 34% higher at PLU than Saint Thomas Aquinas College ($49,472.00 vs. $36,920.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Thomas Aquinas College than PLU ($21,257 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 30.8% lower than costs at Saint Thomas Aquinas College ($12,446 vs. $16,280)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Thomas Aquinas College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 30.7% larger than aid received Saint Thomas Aquinas College ($39,464 vs. $30,197)
Saint Thomas Aquinas College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Saint Thomas Aquinas College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Saint Thomas Aquinas College .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 175 points higher than at Saint Thomas Aquinas College (942)
- Incoming PLU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Saint Thomas Aquinas College (20)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Saint Thomas Aquinas College (3.0)
- Saint Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than PLU (80.5%)
Saint Thomas Aquinas College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Saint Thomas Aquinas 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 Saint Thomas Aquinas College.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Saint Thomas Aquinas College (66% vs. 58%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $4,300 more per year than Saint Thomas Aquinas College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $48,000)
- Saint Thomas Aquinas College students graduate with a $3,300 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,800)
- Saint Thomas Aquinas College graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($232 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Thomas Aquinas College 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/