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Boise State Washington State SPU MSU ISU UO UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University OSU Lewis-Clark State College The University of Montana| University of Idaho | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Idaho | PLU | ||
| Location | Moscow, ID | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 11,849 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #552 | #429 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uidaho.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Idaho | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,540 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,508 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,380 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,377 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,095 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 99% |
Admission |
Idaho | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,222 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 9,666 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.1% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.3% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.47 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/29 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 950/1200 | 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 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Idaho | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Idaho | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,900 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,279 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $251 | $266 |
Diversity |
Idaho | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Idaho | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 63% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Idaho | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Idaho is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (11,849 students vs. 2,737 students)
Idaho vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Idaho or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 656.5% more expensive to attend than Idaho for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $6,540.00)
- Out of state tuition is 79.8% higher at PLU than University of Idaho ($49,472.00 vs. $27,508.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Idaho than PLU ($14,377 vs. $23,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Idaho are 19.9% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($10,380 vs. $12,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than University of Idaho (99% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 226.3% larger than aid received University of Idaho ($39,464 vs. $12,095)
Idaho vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Idaho or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Idaho .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 56 points higher than at Idaho (1061)
- Incoming PLU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Idaho (23)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Idaho (3.47)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Idaho (79.1%)
Idaho vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Idaho 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 Idaho.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than University of Idaho (66% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $5,400 more per year than Idaho graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $46,900)
- University of Idaho students graduate with a $1,521 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($24,279 vs. $25,800)
- Idaho graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($251 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Idaho students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/