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SPU Calvin College Pepperdine Taylor University UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Hope College St Olaf Cedarville University Westmont College IWU| Wheaton College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Wheaton College | PLU | ||
| Location | Wheaton, IL | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,885 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #166 | #311 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Undenominational | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wheaton.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Wheaton College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $41,990 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,990 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,690 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,961 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,272 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Wheaton College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,893 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 1,674 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.4% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.1% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.75 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 28/33 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1430 | 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 | Aug 1, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Wheaton College | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Wheaton College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,300 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 90% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $266 |
Diversity |
Wheaton College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Wheaton College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 23% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 70% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Wheaton 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
- Wheaton College is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 2,633 students)
Wheaton College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 17.8% more expensive to attend than Wheaton College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $41,990.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.8% higher at PLU than Wheaton College ($49,472.00 vs. $41,990.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Wheaton College ($24,825 vs. $29,961)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 1.2% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($11,690 vs. $11,826)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 50.1% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($36,435 vs. $24,272)
Wheaton College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Wheaton College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Wheaton College .
- The average SAT score at Wheaton College (1314) is 197 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming Wheaton College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman Wheaton College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at PLU (3.71)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Wheaton College (88.4%)
Wheaton College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Wheaton 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 Wheaton College.
- The graduation rate at Wheaton College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (87% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Wheaton College earn on average $2,000 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $52,300)
- Wheaton College students graduate with a $3,300 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,800)
- Wheaton College graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($232 vs. $266)
- More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/