Berry College vs. PLU

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

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Berry College vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Berry College Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Berry College Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

Berry College PLU
Location Mount Berry, GA Tacoma, WA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,360 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #381 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website berry.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Berry College PLU
Tuition (In State) $39,150 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $39,150 $49,472
Room & Board $13,890 $11,826
Avg Net Price $25,359 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $29,670 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Berry College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,643 3,334
Admitted 3,742 2,964
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 88.9%
Enrolled % 16.9% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 27/30
SAT Range 1110/1290 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 Jul 15, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Berry College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (10%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Berry College PLU
Graduation Rate 57% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,700 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $237 $266

Diversity

Berry College PLU
% Men 36% 36%
% Women 64% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 68%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Berry College PLU
% In-State 77% 74%
% Out-of-State 23% 22%

Campus

Berry 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 Berry College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 2,360 students)

Berry College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berry College or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 26.4% more expensive to attend than Berry College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $39,150.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.4% higher at PLU than Berry College ($49,472.00 vs. $39,150.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Berry College ($24,825 vs. $25,359)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 17.5% lower than costs at Berry College ($11,826 vs. $13,890)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Berry College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 22.8% larger than aid received Berry College ($36,435 vs. $29,670)

Berry College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berry College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Berry College .

  • The average SAT score at Berry College (1179) is 62 points higher than at PLU (1117)
  • Incoming Berry College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Berry College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Berry College (66.3%)

Berry College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Berry 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 Berry College.

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Berry College (66% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $10,600 more per year than Berry College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $41,700)
  • Berry College students graduate with a $2,800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,800)
  • Berry College graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($237 vs. $266)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berry College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/