Sewanee vs. PLU

Should I go to Sewanee The University of the South or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Sewanee or PLU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Sewanee The University of the South vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Sewanee The University of the South Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Sewanee The University of the South Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

Sewanee PLU
Location Sewanee, TN Tacoma, WA
Setting Distant Rural Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,704 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #83 #311
Religious Affiliation Protestant Episcopal Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sewanee.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Sewanee PLU
Tuition (In State) $50,874 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $50,874 $49,472
Room & Board $14,608 $11,826
Avg Net Price $33,061 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $34,241 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 99%

Admission

Sewanee PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,578 3,334
Admitted 2,395 2,964
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 88.9%
Enrolled % 17.4% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.71
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 27/30
SAT Range 1233/1380 1253/1423
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 Feb 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Sewanee PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Sewanee PLU
Graduation Rate 86% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,800 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $196 $266

Diversity

Sewanee PLU
% Men 48% 36%
% Women 52% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 68%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Sewanee PLU
% In-State 21% 74%
% Out-of-State 75% 22%

Campus

Sewanee PLU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 Sewanee based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,704 students)

Sewanee vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sewanee or PLU?

  • Sewanee The University of the South is 2.8% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($50,874.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at Sewanee than Pacific Lutheran University ($50,874.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Sewanee ($24,825 vs. $33,061)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 23.5% lower than costs at Sewanee The University of the South ($11,826 vs. $14,608)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Sewanee The University of the South (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 6.4% larger than aid received Sewanee The University of the South ($36,435 vs. $34,241)

Sewanee vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sewanee or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Sewanee .

  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Sewanee (52.3%)

Sewanee vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Sewanee 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 Sewanee.

  • The graduation rate at Sewanee is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (86% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Sewanee graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $49,800)
  • Sewanee The University of the South students graduate with a $6,800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($19,000 vs. $25,800)
  • Sewanee graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($196 vs. $266)
  • More Sewanee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/