Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private · Large suburb · PLU
Private institution in Tacoma, WA · 2,350 undergraduates · 81% acceptance rate · $66,990 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 17%Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- Top 19%Graduation rate (4-year)
- Top 23%Median earnings, 6 years after entry
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $21,3701,212th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $50,9641,839th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $50,9641,836th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $62,9211,740th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $22,578965th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $66,990339th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $52,212445th highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 71.0%386th highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 79.4%704th highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 80.5%924th most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1152519th highest of 1,024 reporting
- Median ACT
- 25346th highest of 954 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 2,350847th largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 12.0:1794th smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 32.8%1,064th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 22 mi (SEA)
On 2 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- Free
- Personal essay
- Required
- Writing supplement
- No
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 41 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science | bachelors | $78,971 | $69,338 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions | bachelors | $69,987 | $68,875 |
| MathematicsMathematics & Statistics | bachelors | $52,055 | $43,426 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEducation | bachelors | $51,607 | $44,551 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation | bachelors | $48,139 | $45,082 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $43,922 | $46,556 |
| Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences | bachelors | $38,289 | $36,674 |
| Social WorkPublic Administration | bachelors | $38,289 | $32,569 |
| ChemistryPhysical Sciences | bachelors | $35,330 | $33,993 |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | $34,603 | $34,420 |
| Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness | bachelors | $33,993 | $31,996 |
| SociologySocial Sciences | bachelors | $33,459 | $35,420 |
Campus facts
- Religious affiliation: Evangelical Lutheran Churchsource
- Founded in 1890source
- Athletic nickname: "Lutes"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
- School colors: Black and Goldsource
- Mascot: Sir Lance-a-Lutesource
- Motto: "Educating for Lives of Thoughtful Inquiry, Service, Leadership, and Care"source
- Campus size: about 156 acressource
- Formerly known as "Pacific Lutheran University" (1890–1898)source
- Formerly known as "Pacific Lutheran Academy and Business College" (1898–1918)source
- Formerly known as "Columbia Lutheran College" (1909–1919)source
- Formerly known as "Spokane College" (1906–1929)source
- Formerly known as "Pacific Lutheran College" (1920–1960)source
- Athletic conference: Northwest Conferencesource
- Plays for the "The Trophy{{cite web |last1=Albanese |first1=Mark |title=Football Unveils "The Trophy" Ahead of 97th Meeting with Crosstown Rivals |date=November 3, 2021 |url=https://golutes.com/news/2021/11/3/football-unveils-the-trophy-ahead-of-97th-meeting-with-crosstown-rivals.aspx |publisher=PLU |access-date=December 7, 2022}}" (since 1931)source
- Fight song: ""PLU Fight Song""source
- Notable alum: Sean Parnellsource
Athletics — 12 sports
NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III
Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Track and Field (Outdoor)
- Volleyball
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.
Key links
- Official websiteplu.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 236230)
- Compare colleges in WARe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in WashingtonEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: Pacific Lutheran University vs Walla Walla Community CollegeHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 12 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.