C of I vs. PLU

Should I go to The College of Idaho or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if C of I 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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The College of Idaho vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
The College of Idaho Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
The College of Idaho Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

 C of I PLU
Location Caldwell, ID Tacoma, WA
Setting Small Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,076 2,737
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #454 #429
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website collegeofidaho.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 C of I PLU
Tuition (In State) $35,180 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $35,180 $49,472
Room & Board $11,935 $12,446
Avg Net Price $22,602 $23,841
Avg Grant Aid $25,927 $39,464
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 C of I PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,553 4,139
Admitted 2,150 3,333
Acceptance Rate 47.2% 80.5%
Enrolled % 13.8% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.71
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/28 21/27
SAT Range 1080/1270 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 Feb 15, 2026 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

 C of I PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • History (10%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

 C of I PLU
Graduation Rate 63% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,700 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,995 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $268 $266

Diversity

 C of I PLU
% Men 1% 4%
% Women 1% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 68%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 14% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 C of I PLU
% In-State 52% 80%
% Out-of-State 32% 12%

Campus

 C of I 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 C of I based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 1,076 students)

C of I vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, C of I or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 40.6% more expensive to attend than C of I for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $35,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.6% higher at PLU than The College of Idaho ($49,472.00 vs. $35,180.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The College of Idaho than PLU ($22,602 vs. $23,841)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of Idaho are 4.3% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($11,935 vs. $12,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The College of Idaho than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 52.2% larger than aid received The College of Idaho ($39,464 vs. $25,927)

C of I vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than C of I (47.2%)

C of I vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, C of I 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 C of I.

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than The College of Idaho (66% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $6,600 more per year than C of I graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $45,700)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $195 lower median federal student loan debt than C of I graduates. ($25,800 vs. $25,995)
  • PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than C of I graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former C of I students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)

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