Union College vs. PLU

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

Union College PLU
Location Schenectady, NY Tacoma, WA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,107 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #76 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website union.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Union College PLU
Tuition (In State) $63,603 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $63,603 $49,472
Room & Board $15,768 $11,826
Avg Net Price $41,136 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $37,530 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 99%

Admission

Union College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,458 3,334
Admitted 3,934 2,964
Acceptance Rate 46.5% 88.9%
Enrolled % 14.6% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/33 27/30
SAT Range 1310/1490 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

Union College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Union College PLU
Graduation Rate 86% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $74,200 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Union College PLU
% Men 55% 36%
% Women 45% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 73% 68%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Union College PLU
% In-State 28% 74%
% Out-of-State 63% 22%

Campus

Union College 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 Union College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 2,107 students)

Union College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College or PLU?

  • Union College is 28.6% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($63,603.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.6% higher at Union College than Pacific Lutheran University ($63,603.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Union College ($24,825 vs. $41,136)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 33.3% lower than costs at Union College ($11,826 vs. $15,768)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Union College (99% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 3% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($37,530 vs. $36,435)

Union College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Union College (3.5)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Union College (46.5%)

Union College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Union College 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 Union College.

  • The graduation rate at Union College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (86% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Union College earn on average $21,900 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Union College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Union College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 74%)

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