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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.

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
$21,3701,210th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$50,9641,822nd cheapest of 2,024 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$50,9641,819th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
Cost of attendance
$62,9211,725th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
Median graduate debt
$22,578958th lowest of 1,865 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$66,990338th highest of 1,954 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$52,212444th highest of 1,950 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
71.0%384th highest of 2,014 reporting
Full-time retention
79.4%698th highest of 1,837 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
80.5%913th most selective of 1,596 reporting
Average SAT
1152518th highest of 1,022 reporting
Median ACT
25346th highest of 952 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates
2,350847th largest of 2,144 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
12.0:1782nd smallest of 2,141 reporting
Pell Grant share
32.8%1,051st highest of 2,122 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.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Sciencebachelors$78,971$69,338
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professionsbachelors$69,987$68,875
MathematicsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$52,055$43,426
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEducationbachelors$51,607$44,551
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducationbachelors$48,139$45,082
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusinessbachelors$43,922$46,556
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciencesbachelors$38,289$36,674
Social WorkPublic Administrationbachelors$38,289$32,569
ChemistryPhysical Sciencesbachelors$35,330$33,993
Communication and Media StudiesCommunicationsbachelors$34,603$34,420
Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitnessbachelors$33,993$31,996
SociologySocial Sciencesbachelors$33,459$35,420

Campus facts

Athletics — 12 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

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.

Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Pacific Lutheran University’s 2,350 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.

In WA

Elsewhere