Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · 4-year

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Sources and reporting periods

Reporting periods: Admission counts and rate: IPEDS Admissions component, fall 2023 entering class. Graduation rate: IPEDS Graduation Rates component, six-year cohort. Score, cost, aid and earnings fields: historical imports without a retained reporting year. Source-check dates on policy notes do not date the statistical fields.

Federal sources: NCES IPEDS and College Scorecard. Covered cohorts differ; a net-price average is not an individual aid offer. Definitions, coverage and limitations.

Compiled by Admit Coach / GPTKIDS LLC using automated data processing and source checks. Report a correction with the institution ID, field and official source link.

Testing policy

Stored testing policy: test-optional. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

No current testing-policy source review is available for this campus.

Application deadlines · countdown

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Working backwards from the first application deadline: ask for recommendations by Sep 6 (start now), first essay draft by Sep 20 (start now), lock final essay by Oct 18, submit by Oct 29.

Recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and shown on this year's calendar; confirm on the official admissions and aid pages. Save this college and the dates join your plan and Sunday note.

Pacific Lutheran University reported a 80.5% acceptance rate for the fall 2023 entering class. Pacific Lutheran University is a private nonprofit 4-year institution in Tacoma, WA, with an SAT reference of 1160 and an ACT reference of 25. The historical average net price is $19,589 per year after financial aid, and it is accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Reporting years vary by field; historical averages describe past cohorts. Review data limitations.

Admissions Statistics

Acceptance Rate

80.5%

4,139 applicants

SAT reference

1160

Combined score

ACT reference

25

Composite score

Avg Net Price

$19,589

After financial aid

SAT & ACT Scores at Pacific Lutheran University

Historical score references from imported federal records for enrolled first-year score submitters. The SAT total references are a sum of section values, not observed total-score percentiles. The reference midpoint column is not a verified median, and none of these values is an admission cutoff. Reporting years are unavailable for these fields.

Test25th percentileReference midpoint75th percentile
SAT (total, 400–1600)98811601260
ACT (composite, 1–36)212527

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

69.8%

Six-year rate, IPEDS cohort

Retention Rate

81.9%

Median Earnings (10yr)

N/A

Student Body

2,401

Net Price by Family Income

Historical averages for the source's covered student cohorts at Pacific Lutheran University, not personal aid offers. Residency and eligibility matter; reporting years are unavailable for these imported fields.

Family IncomeAvg Net Price/Year
$0 – $30,000$13,609
$30,001 – $48,000$12,948
$48,001 – $75,000$15,756
$75,001 – $110,000$22,535
$110,000+$26,915

Top Majors at Pacific Lutheran University

MajorDegrees Awarded
Health Professions132
Business, Management & Marketing58
Visual & Performing Arts48
Social Sciences46
Biological & Biomedical Sciences43
Parks, Recreation & Fitness40
Education35
Physical Sciences30
Communication & Journalism27
Psychology24

Financial Aid at Pacific Lutheran University

About Pacific Lutheran University

Official website: https://www.plu.edu/

Admissions: https://www.plu.edu/admission/

Frequently Asked Questions About Pacific Lutheran University

What is the acceptance rate at Pacific Lutheran University?

Pacific Lutheran University reported a 80% acceptance rate to IPEDS for the fall 2023 entering class. the reported applicant count is about 4,139. It describes a past campus applicant pool, not an individual admission probability or admission to a particular major.

How hard is it to get into Pacific Lutheran University?

The historical 80% acceptance rate suggests Pacific Lutheran University was less selective at the campus level in the stored data. Selectivity can differ by year, major, residency and applicant type. Admit Coach's reach, target and safety labels are heuristic research aids, not validated personal probabilities or admission guarantees.

What SAT or ACT scores do you need for Pacific Lutheran University?

The imported historical records for Pacific Lutheran University include an SAT reference value of 1160 and an ACT reference value of 25. Reference values may be derived from reported score ranges; they are not verified medians or required cutoffs. Federal score ranges describe enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Verify current testing requirements on the college's official admissions page.

How much does it cost to attend Pacific Lutheran University?

The stored historical average net price at Pacific Lutheran University is $19,589 per year after grants and scholarships for the source's covered cohort. the stored share receiving aid is about 99%; the stored average grant or scholarship is $39,464 per year. Reporting years and populations may differ. This is not your aid offer; public-college averages may cover in-state students. Use the official net-price calculator with your household details.

What is the graduation rate at Pacific Lutheran University?

The six-year graduation rate reported to IPEDS for Pacific Lutheran University is 70%. its stored first-year retention rate is 82%. These measures describe past source cohorts, not the current student body, and do not predict an individual student's outcomes.

Is Pacific Lutheran University test-optional?

Stored testing policy: test-optional. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

When is the application deadline for Pacific Lutheran University?

Pacific Lutheran University's recorded application deadlines, shown on this cycle's calendar, are Regular Decision on August 1, 2026, Early Action on November 1, 2026. Aid deadlines: Financial aid April 1, FAFSA June 30. These were recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and dates can change; confirm on Pacific Lutheran University's official admissions page. Admit Coach's Deadline Radar counts down to each date and adds them to your calendar.

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