Overview of Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University is a private institution associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Students can select from 44 majors and 54 minors. Pacific Lutheran has a 12 to 1 student/faculty ratio, and all classes are taught by professors, not graduate students or teaching assistants. About 450 students study abroad every year. Student life is robust, with more than 100 clubs and organizations. In athletics, the PLU Lutes play in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference. The institution sponsors 19 intercollegiate teams.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 3,143 (2,771 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 36 percent male/64 percent female
• 96 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $43,674
• Books: $840
• Room and Board: $10,876
• Other Expenses: $2,718
• Total Cost: $58,108

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 99 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 98 percent
  • Loans: 57 percent
• Mean Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $25,256
  • Loans: $11,169

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 83 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 65 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 67 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports:Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports:Basketball, Cross Country, Crew-Rowing, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball

Overview of Pacific Lutheran University Admissions

Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants should complete an online application and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the application process’s next steps.

Admissions Data                        

• Pacific Lutheran University Acceptance Rate: 80 percent
• Test Scores — 25th/75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 540/640
  • SAT Math: 530/630
  • ACT Cumulative: 20/28
  • ACT English: 21/29
  • ACT Math: 18/26

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Pacific Lutheran University, it should be easy to gain admissions to the schools below. If Pacific Lutheran University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Hampton University, Washington State University, University of Texas at San Antonio, East Carolina University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Texas State University

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Pacific Lutheran University, you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

University of Oregon, University of Alabama, Colorado State University, Quinnipiac University, Ohio University, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Arlington

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Pacific Lutheran University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, you’ll be a competitive candidate.

Syracuse University, United States Military Academy, Penn State University Park, University of Cincinnati, Hofstra University, Temple University, Seton Hall University

Applying to Pacific Lutheran University

Application Deadline: Rolling

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://www.plu.edu/admission-first-year/

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://www.plu.edu/admission-first-year/apply/

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://www.plu.edu/admission-graduate/

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://www.plu.edu/admission-graduate/apply/