Pacific Lutheran University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges

Pacific Lutheran University

#25 in Regional Universities West (tie)

4 year • Tacoma, WA

4 year • Tacoma, WA
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Overview

Pacific Lutheran University is a private institution that was founded in 1890. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,301 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 156 acres. It utilizes a 4-1-4-based academic calendar. Pacific Lutheran University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities West, #25. Its tuition and fees are $50,964.


Pacific Lutheran University is a private institution that was founded in 1890. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,301 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 156 acres. It utilizes a 4-1-4-based academic calendar. Pacific Lutheran University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities West, #25. Its tuition and fees are $50,964.


At-a-Glance

Setting

Suburban

Tuition & Fees

$50,964

Undergraduate Enrollment

2,301

Acceptance Rate

89%

12180 Park Street S, Tacoma, WA, 98447

From the School

PLU is the small, private university where caring means more than kindness and consideration - it means a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice. Our students aren’t afraid to do things differently to leave the world better than they found it.


We are a community of seekers, trailblazers, creators, and reformers who know that we can accomplish more together than apart. The PLU experience allows your ambition to blossom into purpose, your skills to sharpen into tools, and your caring to become a transformative force.

PLU is the small, private university where caring means more than kindness and consideration - it means a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice. Our students aren’t afraid to do things differently to leave the world better than they found it.


We are a community of seekers, trailblazers, creators, and reformers who know that we can accomplish more together than apart. The PLU experience allows your ambition to blossom into purpose, your skills to sharpen into tools, and your caring to become a transformative force.

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2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

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Admissions

Rolling

Application Deadline

89%

Acceptance Rate

SAT Range*

1253-1423

ACT Range*

27-30

High School GPA*

3.7

Admissions Website

Apply Now

* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

Will You Get Into Pacific Lutheran University?

College Admissions Calculator

Data provided by U.S. News College Compass Users.

Cost

Tuition & Fees

$50,964

Room & Board

$12,446(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$43,655

$21,023

Annual Cost*

$21,023

Annual Cost*

Tuition & Fees

$50,964

Room & Board

$12,446(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$43,655

*Average cost after aid

Academics

63%

4-Year Graduation Rate

12:1

Student/Faculty Ratio

52%

Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students

Popular Majors

MAJOR

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

16%

N/A

Business Administration and Management, General

13%

N/A

Exercise Science and Kinesiology

8%

N/A

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

6%

N/A

Psychology, General

5%

N/A

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
16% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Business Administration and Management, General
13% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
8% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
6% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Psychology, General
5% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

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Students

2,301

Undergraduate Enrollment

Graduate Enrollment

332

Total Enrollment

2,633

Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students

2,101

Student Diversity

Gender Distribution

Male38%
Female62%

Ethnic Diversity

47%

Minority Enrollment

47%

Minority Enrollment

51%

White

18%

Hispanic

11%

Asian

11%

Two or more races

4%

Black

2%

Pacific Islander

2%

International

1%

American Indian

1%

Unknown

Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Campus Life

Housing and Dorms

Types of campus housing available:

  • coed dorms
  • women's dorms
  • apartments for married students
  • apartment for single students
  • special housing for international students
  • wellness housing
  • Student Activities

    50+

    Sports Teams

    N/A

    Fraternities

    N/A

    Sororities

    After College

    Graduation Rate

    63%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    61%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $27,818

    $40,550

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    $40,550

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    Graduation Rate

    63%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    61%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $27,818

    Reviews & Ratings

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    Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.

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