PLU Admission Requirements
Tacoma, WashingtonChances of getting into Pacific Lutheran University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
79.8%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Difficult | |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
How hard is it to get into PLU and can I get accepted? The school has a 80% acceptance rate ranking it #13 in Washington for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 2,984 out of 3,740 applicants were admitted making Pacific Lutheran University an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance assuming you meet the requirements. Academically, it has difficult requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 48 percent. Pacific Lutheran University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students. Only 22% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at PLU, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesPLU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1070-1270Applicants Submitting SAT
88%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 540 |
| SAT Math 25th | 530 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1070 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 640 |
| SAT Math 75th | 630 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1270 |
| Average SAT Score | 1170 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Pacific Lutheran University?
Pacific Lutheran University typically requires applicants to be in the top 47 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1070 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 970. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1170 out of 1600. The school ranks #8 in Washington for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 88 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1270 and Above | Good | >87% |
| 1170 to 1270 | Avg + | 80%-87% |
| 1070 to 1170 | Avg - | 70%-80% |
| 970 to 1070 | Reach | 58%-70% |
| Less than 970 | Low | <58% |
PLU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
20-28Applicants Submitting ACT
12%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 21 |
| ACT Math 25th | 18 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 20 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 29 |
| ACT Math 75th | 26 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 28 |
| Average ACT Score | 24 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into PLU?
Admission data indicates that PLU regularly accepts students with ACT's of 20 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 49 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 16 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 24 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 28 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #7 in Washington for highest average ACT composite score. 12 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Pacific Lutheran University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 28 and Above | Good | >87% |
| 24 to 28 | Avg + | 80%-87% |
| 20 to 24 | Avg - | 70%-80% |
| 16 to 20 | Reach | 58%-70% |
| Less than 16 | Low | <58% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.66Typical High School Grades
B+You will need very good grades in high school to get into Pacific Lutheran University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Pacific Lutheran University was 3.66 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #5 in Washington for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.66 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as PLU accepts 80% of all applicants.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 54% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 19% | Avg - |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 12% | Avg - |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 10% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 5% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
High School Class Rank
70% of Pacific Lutheran University freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 35% |
| Top 25% of class | 70% |
| Top 50% of class | 92% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 8% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 1% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 2,296 | 1,444 | 3,740 |
| Accepted | 1,863 | 1,121 | 2,984 |
| Acceptance Rate | 81% | 78% | 80% |
| Enrolled | 428 | 221 | 649 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 23% | 20% | 22% |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Pacific Lutheran University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=236230 IPEDS survey data for Pacific Lutheran University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pacific Lutheran University prefer SAT or ACT?
88% of students submit their SAT scores to PLU. 12% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Pacific Lutheran University?
80% of those who apply are granted admission to PLU. Admission competition is and the college has difficult admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Pacific Lutheran University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1070 and 1270. 88% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Pacific Lutheran University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 20 and 28. 12% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
