Wheaton College vs. PLU

Should I go to Wheaton College or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wheaton 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Wheaton College vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Wheaton College Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Wheaton College Pacific Lutheran University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Wheaton College PLU
Location Norton, MA Tacoma, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,667 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wheatoncollege.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wheaton College PLU
Tuition (In State) $59,750 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $59,750 $49,472
Room & Board $14,800 $11,826
Avg Net Price $32,863 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $41,665 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

Wheaton College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,031 3,334
Admitted 3,204 2,964
Acceptance Rate 79.5% 88.9%
Enrolled % 15.4% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 27/33 27/30
SAT Range 1260/1390 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 Feb 15, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Wheaton College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Psychology (19%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Ethnic Studies (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Wheaton College PLU
Graduation Rate 77% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $268 $266

Diversity

Wheaton College PLU
% Men 37% 36%
% Women 63% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 68%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 10% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Wheaton College PLU
% In-State 38% 74%
% Out-of-State 57% 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

  • Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,667 students)

Wheaton College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College or PLU?

  • Wheaton College is 20.8% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($59,750.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.8% higher at Wheaton College than Pacific Lutheran University ($59,750.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Wheaton College ($24,825 vs. $32,863)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 25.1% lower than costs at Wheaton College ($11,826 vs. $14,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Wheaton College (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wheaton College students is 14.4% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($41,665 vs. $36,435)

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 .

  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Wheaton College (3.48)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Wheaton College (79.5%)

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 (77% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Wheaton College earn on average $1,400 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Wheaton College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Wheaton College graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More Wheaton 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/