Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private
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See the full analysis — freeAdmission rate
Pacific Lutheran University admitted 78.0% of applicants university-wide (3,895 of 4,992).
| Cohort | Admit rate | Admitted | Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University-wide | 78.0% | 3,895 | 4,992 |
| In-state | 66.7% | 1,000 | 1,500 |
| Out-of-state | 72.2% | 1,300 | 1,800 |
| International applicants | 75.0% | 150 | 200 |
| Men | 73.8% | 1,460 | 1,978 |
| Women | 80.8% | 2,330 | 2,885 |
Also offers Early Action — the Common Data Set doesn't publish EA admit counts.
Of 3,895 admitted students, 550 enrolled (14.1% yield).
Pacific Lutheran University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C1–C2 · 2023 — Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.
Test scores and GPA of admitted students
- SAT (mid-50%)
- 1040–1260
- ACT (mid-50%)
- 22–28
Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
Pacific Lutheran University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C9–C12 · 2023 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.
Cost and financial aid
Published cost of attendance: $62,459/yr.
| Out-of-state tuition | $52,254 |
| Fees, housing, food, books & other | $13,793 |
| Sticker cost of attendance | $62,459/yr |
Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)
| Under $30k | $13,609 |
| $30k–48k | $12,948 |
| $48k–75k | $15,756 |
| $75k–110k | $22,535 |
| Over $110k | $26,915 |
US applicants
Need- and merit-based aid available.
- Trustee Scholarship — Up to $20,000 per year (Trustee)
- Dean's Scholarship — Up to $15,000 per year (Merit)
- PLU Scholarship — $8,000-$14,000 per year (Automatic)
- Regents' Scholarship — Up to $10,000 per year (Merit)
- PLU Grant — Varies (Need Based)
- President's Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
International applicants
No need-based aid reported for internationals.
- International Student Scholarship — Up to $28,000 per year (International Aid)
- Trustee Scholarship — Up to $20,000 per year (Trustee)
- Dean's Scholarship — Up to $15,000 per year (Merit)
- PLU Scholarship — $8,000-$14,000 per year (Automatic)
- Regents' Scholarship — Up to $10,000 per year (Merit)
- President's Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
Pacific Lutheran University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections G–H · 2023
Application requirements
US applicants
- Undergraduate Application (Common App)
- Personal Essay
- Official High School Transcript
- Academic Recommendation (optional)
International applicants
- Undergraduate Application (Common App)
- Personal Essay
- Official High School Transcript
- Academic Recommendation (optional)
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- GPA credential conversion
- Predicted Class XII marksheet
- Financial documentation (I-20)
Pacific Lutheran University · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025
Essay prompts
Pacific Lutheran University requires no supplemental essays.
Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 4, 2026
Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings
- $66,990
- Median earnings · 10 years after entry
- Graduation rate
- 68.6%
- Within 150% of normal time
- First-year retention
- 82%
- Return for year two · CDS Section B
- Median debt
- $22,578
- At graduation
Pacific Lutheran University · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.
Published rankings
- Forbes: #255
- Niche: #431
Academics and campus
Largest degree fields: Business & marketing (13%), Visual & performing arts (9%), Biological & life sciences (7%).
Student–faculty ratio: 12:1.
Pacific Lutheran University U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections E, F, I · 2023 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.