Wooster vs. PLU

Should I go to The College of Wooster or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wooster 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Denison SPU Oberlin Kalamazoo College Allegheny College St Olaf UW-Seattle Beloit College Seattle U Earlham Kenyon Whitworth University
The College of Wooster vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
The College of Wooster Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
The College of Wooster Pacific Lutheran University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Wooster PLU
Location Wooster, OH Tacoma, WA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,967 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #198 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wooster.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wooster PLU
Tuition (In State) $57,050 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $57,050 $49,472
Room & Board $13,500 $11,826
Avg Net Price $28,976 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $42,315 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

Wooster PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,251 3,334
Admitted 4,080 2,964
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 88.9%
Enrolled % 14.2% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 27/30
SAT Range 1250/1450 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 15, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Wooster PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Wooster PLU
Graduation Rate 75% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,200 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $268 $266

Diversity

Wooster PLU
% Men 49% 36%
% Women 51% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 68%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 0% 7%
% International 9% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Wooster PLU
% In-State 32% 74%
% Out-of-State 51% 22%

Campus

Wooster PLU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 Wooster based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,967 students)

Wooster vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wooster or PLU?

  • The College of Wooster is 15.3% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($57,050.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.3% higher at Wooster than Pacific Lutheran University ($57,050.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Wooster ($24,825 vs. $28,976)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 14.2% lower than costs at The College of Wooster ($11,826 vs. $13,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than The College of Wooster (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Wooster students is 16.1% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($42,315 vs. $36,435)

Wooster vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The College of Wooster (1237) is 120 points higher than at PLU (1117)
  • Incoming Wooster students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Wooster students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Wooster (56.3%)

Wooster vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wooster 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 Wooster.

  • The graduation rate at Wooster is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (75% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $1,100 more per year than Wooster graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $51,200)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Wooster graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Wooster graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More Wooster graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

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