Wake Forest vs. PLU

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

Wake Forest PLU
Location Winston Salem, NC Tacoma, WA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,963 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wfu.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wake Forest PLU
Tuition (In State) $61,012 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $61,012 $49,472
Room & Board $16,652 $11,826
Avg Net Price $26,197 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $54,233 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 29% 99%

Admission

Wake Forest PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,857 3,334
Admitted 3,602 2,964
Acceptance Rate 21.4% 88.9%
Enrolled % 38% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.71
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very High
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 27/30
SAT Range 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 Jan 1, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Wake Forest PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Wake Forest PLU
Graduation Rate 88% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,200 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $237 $266

Diversity

Wake Forest PLU
% Men 43% 36%
% Women 57% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 68%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Wake Forest PLU
% In-State 14% 74%
% Out-of-State 77% 22%

Campus

Wake Forest 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

  • Wake Forest University is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (8,963 students vs. 2,633 students)

Wake Forest vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest or PLU?

  • Wake Forest University is 23.3% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($61,012.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.3% higher at Wake Forest than Pacific Lutheran University ($61,012.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Wake Forest ($24,825 vs. $26,197)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 40.8% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($11,826 vs. $16,652)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Wake Forest University (99% vs. 29%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 48.8% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($54,233 vs. $36,435)

Wake Forest vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Wake Forest (21.4%)

Wake Forest vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest.

  • The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (88% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $24,900 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $52,300)
  • Wake Forest University students graduate with a $2,800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,800)
  • Wake Forest graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($237 vs. $266)
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 74%)

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