Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
- More
Tacoma , WA
Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) is a private liberal arts institution located in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 1890, PLU has a strong reputation for its focus on educating the whole person and preparing students for lives of service, leadership, and success. With a student population of over 3,100 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, PLU ensures that students receive personalized attention and engage in meaningful interactions with faculty and peers.
At PLU, students have access to a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across disciplines such as humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, business, education, and more. The university is particularly known for its programs in nursing, business administration, education, and environmental studies. PLU is committed to experiential learning, encouraging students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings through internships, research, and community engagement. This hands-on approach helps students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership abilities.
Furthermore, PLU values diversity and inclusivity, fostering an inclusive community where students from all backgrounds can thrive. The campus provides numerous opportunities for involvement, such as student-led organizations, clubs, and activities that cater to diverse interests, passions, and cultures. With a strong commitment to sustainability, PLU has been awarded multiple accolades for its environmental initiatives, including having a LEED Gold-certified major building and significant carbon neutrality efforts. Overall, Pacific Lutheran University offers a supportive and well-rounded education that prepares students to make positive contributions to their communities and succeed in their chosen fields.
Pacific Lutheran University is a private university located in Tacoma, WA and set in an urban environment. This academic institution uses a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 78%. The freshman retention rate at Pacific Lutheran University is 82% and the six-year graduation rate is 69%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 1. The transfer application deadline is September 1.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Pacific Lutheran University.
Quick Facts
2,446
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$50,720
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
69%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Discover some important data about admission at Pacific Lutheran University.
In 2025, the school accepted 3,894 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively noncompetitive.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.66. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Pacific Lutheran University.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1. When filling out the application as a transfer student, the application deadline is September 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Pacific Lutheran University was 82% in 2025, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 69%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 2,797 students.
That year, the school had 20% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 2,446, 108 of which were foreign students. 20 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 879 male and 1,603 female full-time students in 2025. There were 62 full-time graduate male and 160 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 248, while the number of Black American students was 130. 463 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 274 as multirace. The school also had 59 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 16 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 27 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Pacific Lutheran University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Pacific Lutheran University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $50,720 in 2025. Since Pacific Lutheran University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $840.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 50,720 |
| Total Expense | $ 50,720 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Pacific Lutheran University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 342 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $45,895.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,305 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,317. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $4,673,236, and state $8,135,066. The students of Pacific Lutheran University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $56,253,773, and external in the amount of $2,550,994.
$28,883
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 655 students overall (including freshmen) at Pacific Lutheran University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 174 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $9,139,812. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $545,042 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Pacific Lutheran University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 298 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 113 men and 165 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Pacific Lutheran University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Pacific Lutheran University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about students' life at Pacific Lutheran University.
Its campus is 156 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Pacific Lutheran University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Pacific Lutheran University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Pacific Lutheran University.
All in all, campus life at Pacific Lutheran University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Pacific Lutheran University.
Career Counselling
There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career.
FAQ
-
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Tacoma, WA.
-
Pacific Lutheran University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Pacific Lutheran University is 50,720 USD, based on the most recent data.
-
The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Pacific Lutheran University is 78%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Pacific Lutheran University is 82%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
