Pacific Lutheran University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Tacoma, Washington. It enrolls 2,401 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
75/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes69
Value73
Affordability55
Selectivity51
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 78%, Pacific Lutheran University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
78%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1040 – 1260
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Pacific Lutheran University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pacific Lutheran University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,589 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,589
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$52,254
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,008
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,008
Books & Supplies
$785
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,745
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,745
Total Cost of Attendance
$62,459
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,609
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,948
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,756
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,535
Over $110,000
$26,915
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,00025%percentile
$22,578Medianpercentile
$29,87675%percentile
$37,31490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,251
↓ $4,327
No Pell $15,993
↓ $6,585
Dependent students $15,868
↓ $6,710
Independent students $25,000
↑ $2,422
Female students $17,500
↓ $5,078
Male students $16,466
↓ $6,112
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($22,578), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
70% of full-time students who enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University graduate within six years, and 81% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
70%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
81%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pacific Lutheran University earn a median of $66,990 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$66,990
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$49,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$56,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,800, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pacific Lutheran University is home to 2,401 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,401
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 44.8%1,076
Hispanic 19.3%463
Other 14.5%349
Asian 10.3%248
Black 5.4%130
International 4.5%108
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pacific Lutheran University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbTacoma, Washington
Housing
Mostly residential1,382 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Pacific Lutheran University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
43 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific Lutheran University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$184M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,791
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
176 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
46
26%
$90,073
Associate Professors
57
32%
$79,583
Assistant Professors
45
26%
$74,883
Instructors
28
16%
$67,148
Pros & Cons of Pacific Lutheran University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pacific Lutheran University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Pacific Lutheran University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pacific Lutheran University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pacific Lutheran University.
Is Pacific Lutheran University hard to get into?
Pacific Lutheran University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78%.
What is the acceptance rate at Pacific Lutheran University?
Pacific Lutheran University has an acceptance rate of 78%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Pacific Lutheran University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pacific Lutheran University scored between 1040 and 1260 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Pacific Lutheran University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pacific Lutheran University scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Pacific Lutheran University cost?
The average net price after aid at Pacific Lutheran University is $19,589 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pacific Lutheran University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $66,990 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,589 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pacific Lutheran University known for?
Pacific Lutheran University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pacific Lutheran University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pacific Lutheran University are $66,990, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pacific Lutheran University accredited?
Yes. Pacific Lutheran University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Pacific Lutheran University?
Pacific Lutheran University enrolls 2,401 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pacific Lutheran University?
Pacific Lutheran University graduates 70% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a public or private college?
Pacific Lutheran University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Pacific Lutheran University located?
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Tacoma, Washington.
What programs does Pacific Lutheran University offer?
Pacific Lutheran University offers 43 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific Lutheran University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific Lutheran University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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