PLU vs. Lawrence

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

PLU Lawrence
Location Tacoma, WA Appleton, WI
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 2,633 1,426
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #311 #207
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website plu.edu lawrence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PLU Lawrence
Tuition (In State) $49,472 $53,667
Tuition (Out of State) $49,472 $53,667
Room & Board $11,826 $11,520
Avg Net Price $24,825 $26,368
Avg Grant Aid $36,435 $40,089
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

PLU Lawrence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,334 2,943
Admitted 2,964 2,127
Acceptance Rate 88.9% 72.3%
Enrolled % 17.7% 17.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.52
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/30 27/32
SAT Range 1253/1423 1210/1460
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 Aug 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

PLU Lawrence
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

PLU Lawrence
Graduation Rate 66% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,300 $45,600
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,800 $27,350
Median Loan Payment $266 $282

Diversity

PLU Lawrence
% Men 36% 46%
% Women 64% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 70%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 4% 10%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

PLU Lawrence
% In-State 74% 22%
% Out-of-State 22% 68%

Campus

PLU Lawrence
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 Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,426 students)

PLU vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLU or Lawrence?

  • Lawrence University is 8.5% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($53,667.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.5% higher at Lawrence than Pacific Lutheran University ($53,667.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Lawrence ($24,825 vs. $26,368)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 2.7% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($11,520 vs. $11,826)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lawrence University than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 10% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($40,089 vs. $36,435)

PLU vs. Lawrence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Lawrence (3.52)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Lawrence (72.3%)

PLU vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PLU or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence and PLU.

  • The graduation rate at Lawrence is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (77% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $6,700 more per year than Lawrence graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $45,600)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,550 lower median federal student loan debt than Lawrence graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,350)
  • PLU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Lawrence graduates. ($266 vs. $282)
  • More Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

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