Pacific Lutheran University

www.plu.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$49,472

2023 Average Net Price

$23,841

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

80.5%

4,139 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

2,737

92.7% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

71%

438 Graduates

About

Pacific Lutheran University is a higher education institution located in Pierce County, WA. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Pacific Lutheran University were Registered Nursing (132 degrees awarded), General Business Administration & Management (70 degrees), and General Biological Sciences (43 degrees).

In 2023, 867 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Pacific Lutheran University. 65.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 34.3% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (503 degrees), 4.12 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (122 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Pacific Lutheran University is $49,472, which is $24,897 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Pacific Lutheran University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 742 total borrowers.

Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Pacific Lutheran University is $49,472, which is $24,897 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $23,841.

In 2023, 96% of undergraduate students attending Pacific Lutheran University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 44% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$49,472

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Pacific Lutheran University was $49,472. The cost of tuition at Pacific Lutheran University is $24,897 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Pacific Lutheran University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$23,841

2023 Value

3.96%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Pacific Lutheran University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,841. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Pacific Lutheran University grew by 3.96%.

This chart compares the average net price of Pacific Lutheran University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$11,826

Room and Board

$702

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Pacific Lutheran University was of $11,826 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $702. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 25.5% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Pacific Lutheran University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

96%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

44%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

96% of undergraduate students at Pacific Lutheran University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 1.03% with respect to 2022, when 97% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Pacific Lutheran University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Pacific Lutheran University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 742 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Pacific Lutheran University received 4,139 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 24.1% annual growth. Out of those 4,139 applicants, 3,333 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 80.5% acceptance rate.

There were 2,737 students enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University in 2023. 7% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Pacific Lutheran University has an overall enrollment yield of 18.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

80.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

3,333

Accepted Out of 4,139

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Pacific Lutheran University was 80.5% (3,333 admissions from 4,139 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 88.9%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 24.1%, while admissions grew by 12.4%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Pacific Lutheran University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

Submission Percentage (2023)

Scores Submitted (2023)

7% of enrolled first-time students at Pacific Lutheran University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Pacific Lutheran University had a total enrollment of 2,737 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Pacific Lutheran University is 2,538 students and the part-time enrollment is 199. This means that 92.7% of students enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Pacific Lutheran University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 47.3% White, 17.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 10.8% Two or More Races, 5.01% Black or African American, 2.23% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.804% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (29.6%), followed by White Male (18.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (12.8%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (40.9%), followed by White Male (14.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (8.97%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

92.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Pacific Lutheran University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 2,737 students. The full-time enrollment at Pacific Lutheran University is 2,538 and the part-time enrollment is 199. This means that 92.7% of students enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.2% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Pacific Lutheran University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

79%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Pacific Lutheran University was 79%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), Pacific Lutheran University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Pacific Lutheran University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
1,295 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
487 enrolled students
Asian
305 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Pacific Lutheran University is 47.3% White, 17.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 10.8% Two or More Races, 5.01% Black or African American, 2.23% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.804% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 50.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 38 students (1.39%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 273 more women than men received degrees from Pacific Lutheran University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Pacific Lutheran University is white (503 degrees awarded). There were 4.12 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (122 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Pacific Lutheran University is Registered Nursing (132 degrees awarded), followed by General Business Administration & Management (70 degrees) and General Biological Sciences (43 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Pacific Lutheran University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Physical Sciences (38 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (49 degrees), and Philosophy and Religious Studies (11 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Postsecondary teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pacific Lutheran University are Postsecondary teachers (172,652 people), Other managers (160,420 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (148,542 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (128,660 people), and Secondary school teachers (124,950 people).

The most specialized majors at Pacific Lutheran University in 2023 are Physical Sciences (38 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (49 degrees), Philosophy and Religious Studies (11 degrees), English (28 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (8 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Diagnostic medical sonographers

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pacific Lutheran University are Diagnostic medical sonographers, Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at Pacific Lutheran University are Physical Sciences (38 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (49 degrees), Philosophy and Religious Studies (11 degrees), English (28 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (8 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pacific Lutheran University are Elementary & secondary schools (496,993 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (396,961 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (193,275 people), Legal services (166,905 people), and Computer Systems Design (160,356 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Pacific Lutheran University.

Most Common (2023)

Registered Nursing
132 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
70 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
43 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Pacific Lutheran University was Registered Nursing with 132 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Pacific Lutheran University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

297

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

570

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 297 degrees were awarded to men at Pacific Lutheran University, which is 0.521 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (570).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Pacific Lutheran University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 55 degrees were awarded to men at Pacific Lutheran University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.38 times more than the 40 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 110 degrees were awarded to men at Pacific Lutheran University in Registered Nursing, which is 5 times more than the 22 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

59%

100% Completion Time

69%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 59% of students graduating from Pacific Lutheran University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 69% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 70% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Two or More Races Male

Highest Graduation Rate (77.3%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Pacific Lutheran University is Male and Two or More Races (77.3% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 0.685% of graduates (3 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
503 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
122 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
89 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Pacific Lutheran University is white (503 degrees awarded). There were 4.12 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (122 degrees).

2.65% of degree recipients (23 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
332 degrees awarded
White Male
171 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
75 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Pacific Lutheran University is white female (332 degrees awarded). There were 1.94 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (171 degrees).

Operations

Pacific Lutheran University has an endowment valued at nearly $118M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 699k (0.594%) compared to the 5.72% average return (2.84M on 49.7M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2023, Pacific Lutheran University had a total salary expenditure of 93.2M. Pacific Lutheran University employs 57 Associate professors, 46 Professors and 45 Assistant professors. Most academics at Pacific Lutheran University are Female Associate professor (39), Female Assistant professor (27), and Male Professor (26).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Pacific Lutheran University are: Management, with 85 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 81 employees, and Service with 72 employees.

Endowment

$118M

2023 Endowment

4.44%

decline from 2022

Pacific Lutheran University has an endowment valued at about $118M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Pacific Lutheran University declined 4.44% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $68M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Pacific Lutheran University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$2.85M - Federal
$593k - State
$1.57M - Local

As of 2023, Pacific Lutheran University received $2.85M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $593k from state grants and contracts, and $1.57M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$45.1M

2023 Salaries

1.95%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Pacific Lutheran University paid a median of $45.1M in salaries, which represents 48.4% of their overall expenditure ($93.2M) and a 1.95% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.8% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 8.58% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 36.1M (39.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$13.6M

Instructional Salaries

167

Number of Employees

In 2023, Pacific Lutheran University paid a total of $13.6M to 167 employees working as instructors, which represents 30.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.12M (2.97%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

57 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

85 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Pacific Lutheran University were Associate professor with 57 employees, Professor with 46 employees, and Assistant professor with 45 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Pacific Lutheran University were Management with 85 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 81 employees, and Service with 72 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Female Associate professor
Female Assistant professor
Male Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Pacific Lutheran University was Female Associate professor with 39 employees, Female Assistant professor with 27 employees, and Male Professor with 26 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Pacific Lutheran University.

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