Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) is a private Lutheran university in Parkland, Washington. It was founded by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants in 1890. PLU is sponsored by the 580 congregations of Region I of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. PLU has approximately 2,700 students enrolled. As of 2023, the school employs approximately 238 full-time professors on the 156-acre (63 ha) woodland campus.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Average net price: $19,589
- Undergraduate enrollment: 2,603
- Graduation rate (150%): 69%
- Graduation rate (200%): 70%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 78%
- Student to faculty ratio: 12:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $66,990
- Median earnings (8 years): $60,142
- Median earnings (6 years): $52,212
- Control: Private nonprofit
- Locale: Suburb, large
- Calendar: Four-one-four plan
- City: Tacoma, WA
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Pacific Lutheran University include Nursing, Business Administration and Management, Biology.
- Nursing (132 bachelor's) · median earnings $91,528 4 years after graduation · median debt $27,000
- Business Administration and Management (58 bachelor's) · median earnings $75,576 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,750
- Biology (43 bachelor's) · median earnings $53,077 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,500
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (40 bachelor's) · median earnings $52,113 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,000
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (27 bachelor's) · median earnings $57,317 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,604
- Psychology (24 bachelor's) · median earnings $55,118 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,969
- Computer Science (23 bachelor's) · median earnings $128,703 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,534
- Elementary Education and Teaching (22 bachelor's) · median earnings $66,848 4 years after graduation · median debt $19,500
- Fine (21 bachelor's) · median earnings $43,650 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,981
- Social Work (18 bachelor's) · median earnings $67,458 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,774
Degree mix: Business 22%, Computer Science 6%, Health 49%, Biological Sciences 11%, Psychology 6%, Communication 7%.
Award levels offered: Certificates, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Pacific Lutheran University students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $13,847 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $13,847
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $13,035
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $18,653
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $24,898
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $29,289
- In-state tuition and fees: $52,254
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $52,254
- Books and supplies: $785
- On-campus room and board: $13,008
- Off-campus room and board: $13,008
- Off-campus with family: $3,884
- Typical cost of attendance: $66,047
- Sticker vs net gap: 70%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 35%
- Federal loan recipients: 44%
- Average institutional grant: $33,166
- Average federal loan: $11,353
- Median debt at graduation: $22,578
Admissions
Pacific Lutheran University admits 78% of applicants. Of students admitted, 14% enrolled.
- Applications: 4,992
- Admitted: 3,895
- Enrolled: 550
- Yield (first-choice signal): 14%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 2,603
- Women: 66%
- Commuter share (estimated): 52%
- Part-time undergraduates: 2%
- Age 25 and older: 9%
- Graduate students: 305
- Graduation rate: 69%
- Come back after freshman year: 82%
- First-generation: 30%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 53%
- Student to faculty: 12:1
- Professor salary: $85,505
- Associate professor salary: $81,761
- Assistant professor salary: $70,613
- On-campus housing capacity: 1,253
- Average SAT: 1,160
- Average ACT: 25
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Pacific Lutheran University acceptance rate? Pacific Lutheran University admits 78% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Pacific Lutheran University cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $13,847 a year after aid. Average net price is $19,589.
What majors does Pacific Lutheran University offer? Popular programs include Nursing, Business Administration and Management, Biology, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
What is the average salary after Pacific Lutheran University? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $66,990 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Pacific Lutheran University graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 78% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 69%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Pacific Lutheran University official site: https://plu.edu.