Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Baylor UT Austin Trinity College SMU Texas A&M Rice Rhodes College SPU Austin College SU TCU Tulane| Trinity University | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Trinity | PLU | ||
| Location | San Antonio, TX | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,692 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #69 | #311 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | trinity.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Trinity | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $48,648 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $48,648 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,134 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,038 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,614 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
Trinity | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,463 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 3,497 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.5% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1310/1470 | 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 | Jan 15, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Trinity | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Trinity | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 80% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $62,800 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,500 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $263 | $266 |
Diversity |
Trinity | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 20% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 7% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Trinity | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 76% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Trinity | 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
- Trinity University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (2,692 students vs. 2,633 students)
Trinity vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Trinity or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 1.7% more expensive to attend than Trinity for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $48,648.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.7% higher at PLU than Trinity University ($49,472.00 vs. $48,648.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Trinity ($24,825 vs. $30,038)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 19.5% lower than costs at Trinity University ($11,826 vs. $14,134)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Trinity University as Pacific Lutheran University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 8.4% larger than aid received Trinity University ($36,435 vs. $33,614)
Trinity vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Trinity or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Trinity .
- The average SAT score at Trinity University (1294) is 177 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming Trinity students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Trinity (3.68)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Trinity (30.5%)
Trinity vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Trinity 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 Trinity.
- The graduation rate at Trinity is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (80% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Trinity University earn on average $10,500 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($62,800 vs. $52,300)
- Trinity University students graduate with a $300 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($25,500 vs. $25,800)
- Trinity graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($263 vs. $266)
- More Trinity graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/