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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland Washington State| Southern Virginia University | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SVU | PLU | ||
| Location | Buena Vista, VA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 967 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | svu.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SVU | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $19,790 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,790 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,376 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,440 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,775 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
SVU | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,101 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 1,097 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 99.6% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.9% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.19 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 943/1253 | 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 |
SVU | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SVU | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 25% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,600 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,654 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $244 | $266 |
Diversity |
SVU | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 29% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
SVU | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 12% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 73% | 12% | ||
Campus |
SVU | 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 SVU based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 967 students)
SVU vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SVU or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 150% more expensive to attend than SVU for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $19,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 150% higher at PLU than Southern Virginia University ($49,472.00 vs. $19,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than SVU ($23,841 vs. $25,440)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 32.7% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($9,376 vs. $12,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Virginia University than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 407.6% larger than aid received Southern Virginia University ($39,464 vs. $7,775)
SVU vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SVU or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or SVU .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 76 points higher than at SVU (1041)
- Incoming PLU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at SVU (23)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at SVU (3.19)
- SVU has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than PLU (80.5%)
SVU vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SVU 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 SVU.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Southern Virginia University (66% vs. 25%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $11,700 more per year than SVU graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $40,600)
- Southern Virginia University students graduate with a $2,146 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($23,654 vs. $25,800)
- SVU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($244 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/