Howard vs. PLU

Should I go to Howard University or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Howard 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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Howard University vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Howard University Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Howard University Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

Howard PLU
Location Washington, DC Tacoma, WA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 12,886 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #318 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website howard.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Howard PLU
Tuition (In State) $30,584 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $30,584 $49,472
Room & Board $15,880 $11,826
Avg Net Price $28,279 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $20,063 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

Howard PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,188 3,334
Admitted 10,253 2,964
Acceptance Rate 53.4% 88.9%
Enrolled % 24.3% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 27/30
SAT Range 1050/1290 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 Feb 15, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Howard PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Communication (20%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Howard PLU
Graduation Rate 63% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,800 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Howard PLU
% Men 29% 36%
% Women 71% 64%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 68%
% Black 91% 3%
% Hispanic 0% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 0% 7%
% International 5% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Howard PLU
% In-State 1% 74%
% Out-of-State 91% 22%

Campus

Howard PLU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Howard University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (12,886 students vs. 2,633 students)

Howard vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 61.8% more expensive to attend than Howard for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $30,584.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 61.8% higher at PLU than Howard University ($49,472.00 vs. $30,584.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Howard ($24,825 vs. $28,279)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 34.3% lower than costs at Howard University ($11,826 vs. $15,880)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Howard University as Pacific Lutheran University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 81.6% larger than aid received Howard University ($36,435 vs. $20,063)

Howard vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 12 points higher than at Howard (1105)
  • Incoming PLU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Howard (24)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Howard (3.66)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Howard (53.4%)

Howard vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Howard 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 Howard.

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Howard University (66% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $500 more per year than Howard graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $51,800)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Howard graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Howard graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 33%)

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