Pacific vs. PLU

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

Pacific PLU
Location Forest Grove, OR Tacoma, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,559 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #354 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pacificu.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pacific PLU
Tuition (In State) $50,884 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $50,884 $49,472
Room & Board $14,408 $11,826
Avg Net Price $33,472 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $33,340 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

Pacific PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,759 3,334
Admitted 2,546 2,964
Acceptance Rate 92.3% 88.9%
Enrolled % 15.4% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 27/30
SAT Range 1010/1350 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 Aug 25, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Pacific PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Pacific PLU
Graduation Rate 61% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,800 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,156 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $270 $266

Diversity

Pacific PLU
% Men 32% 36%
% Women 68% 64%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 52% 68%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 3% 1%
% Two or More Races 12% 7%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Pacific PLU
% In-State 38% 74%
% Out-of-State 61% 22%

Campus

Pacific 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 University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (3,559 students vs. 2,633 students)

Pacific vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pacific or PLU?

  • Pacific University is 2.9% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($50,884.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.9% higher at Pacific than Pacific Lutheran University ($50,884.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Pacific ($24,825 vs. $33,472)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 21.8% lower than costs at Pacific University ($11,826 vs. $14,408)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Pacific University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 9.3% larger than aid received Pacific University ($36,435 vs. $33,340)

Pacific vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 27 points higher than at Pacific (1090)
  • Incoming PLU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Pacific (24)
  • Accepted freshman Pacific students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • Pacific has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than PLU (88.9%)

Pacific vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pacific 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 Pacific.

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Pacific University (66% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $5,500 more per year than Pacific graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $46,800)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $356 lower median federal student loan debt than Pacific graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,156)
  • PLU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Pacific graduates. ($266 vs. $270)
  • More Pacific graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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