Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
SPU Clark University Stonehill College UW-Seattle Trinity Seattle U Hobart William Smith Colleges Whitworth University Providence Endicott College Emerson Bentley| Wheaton College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| 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 |
|
|
||
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/