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Denison SPU Oberlin Kalamazoo College Allegheny College St Olaf UW-Seattle Beloit College Seattle U Earlham Kenyon Whitworth University| The College of Wooster | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 | ||
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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/