Reed vs. PLU

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

Reed PLU
Location Portland, OR Tacoma, WA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,534 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #77 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website reed.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Reed PLU
Tuition (In State) $64,450 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $64,450 $49,472
Room & Board $15,950 $11,826
Avg Net Price $33,106 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $47,864 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 99%

Admission

Reed PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,023 3,334
Admitted 2,779 2,964
Acceptance Rate 30.8% 88.9%
Enrolled % 14.2% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.71
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 27/30
SAT Range 1320/1500 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 15, 2024

Academics

Reed PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Foreign Languages (15%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Reed PLU
Graduation Rate 80% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,200 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $165 $266

Diversity

Reed PLU
% Men 42% 36%
% Women 58% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 60% 68%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 8% 7%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Reed PLU
% In-State 6% 74%
% Out-of-State 87% 22%

Campus

Reed 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 Reed based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,534 students)

Reed vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Reed or PLU?

  • Reed College is 30.3% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($64,450.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.3% higher at Reed than Pacific Lutheran University ($64,450.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Reed ($24,825 vs. $33,106)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 34.9% lower than costs at Reed College ($11,826 vs. $15,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Reed College (99% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 31.4% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($47,864 vs. $36,435)

Reed vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Reed College (1383) is 266 points higher than at PLU (1117)
  • Incoming Reed students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Reed (30.8%)

Reed vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Reed 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 Reed.

  • The graduation rate at Reed is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (80% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $5,100 more per year than Reed graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $47,200)
  • Reed College students graduate with a $9,800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($16,000 vs. $25,800)
  • Reed graduates are paying $101 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($165 vs. $266)
  • More Reed graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 74%)

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