Ursinus College vs. PLU

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

Ursinus College PLU
Location Collegeville, PA Tacoma, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,527 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #214 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ursinus.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Ursinus College PLU
Tuition (In State) $58,016 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $58,016 $49,472
Room & Board $14,624 $11,826
Avg Net Price $33,546 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $40,075 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Ursinus College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,237 3,334
Admitted 2,661 2,964
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 88.9%
Enrolled % 14.3% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 28/32 27/30
SAT Range 1180/1380 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 May 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Ursinus College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Ursinus College PLU
Graduation Rate 80% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Ursinus College PLU
% Men 52% 36%
% Women 48% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 68%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Ursinus College PLU
% In-State 63% 74%
% Out-of-State 36% 22%

Campus

Ursinus 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 Ursinus College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,527 students)

Ursinus College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ursinus College or PLU?

  • Ursinus College is 17.3% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($58,016.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.3% higher at Ursinus College than Pacific Lutheran University ($58,016.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Ursinus College ($24,825 vs. $33,546)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 23.7% lower than costs at Ursinus College ($11,826 vs. $14,624)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ursinus College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ursinus College students is 10% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($40,075 vs. $36,435)

Ursinus College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Ursinus College (3.53)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Ursinus College (82.2%)

Ursinus College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Ursinus 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 Ursinus College.

  • The graduation rate at Ursinus College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (80% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Ursinus College earn on average $5,700 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Ursinus College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Ursinus College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More Ursinus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)

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