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UCSD San Diego State Loyola Marymount Chapman Pepperdine SCU USF USC PLNU UCSB SPU Cal Poly| University of San Diego | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
USD | PLU | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 8,815 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sandiego.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
USD | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,810 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,810 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,010 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,008 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,408 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 83% | 99% |
Admission |
USD | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,334 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 7,541 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 52.6% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.95 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 27/30 | |||
| SAT Range | 1253/1423 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Dec 15, 2023 | Aug 15, 2024 |
Academics |
USD | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
USD | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,200 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,904 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $236 | $266 |
Diversity |
USD | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 53% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 7% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
USD | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 22% | ||
Campus |
USD | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of San Diego is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (8,815 students vs. 2,633 students)
USD vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, USD or PLU?
- University of San Diego is 8.8% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($53,810.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8.8% higher at USD than Pacific Lutheran University ($53,810.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than USD ($24,825 vs. $36,008)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 43.8% lower than costs at University of San Diego ($11,826 vs. $17,010)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than University of San Diego (99% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 0.1% larger than aid received University of San Diego ($36,435 vs. $36,408)
USD vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, USD or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or USD .
- The average SAT score at University of San Diego (1236) is 119 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming USD students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at PLU (3.71)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than USD (52.6%)
USD vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, USD 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 USD.
- The graduation rate at USD is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (75% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from University of San Diego earn on average $17,900 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($70,200 vs. $52,300)
- University of San Diego students graduate with a $2,896 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($22,904 vs. $25,800)
- USD graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($236 vs. $266)
- More USD 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/