Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington · Private · 2,401 undergraduates · plu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
78%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1040 to 1260
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$71,660Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Pacific Lutheran University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
78% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$71,660
a year in 2027-28, from a $71,660 sticker price
What to do with your 1150
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1150).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: Apply | First-Year | PLU · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Dec1Early Action · December 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Feb1Regular Decision · February 1, 2027The standard deadline.
- Jul15Other deadline · July 15, 2027
Source: Apply | First-Year | PLU
Who gets in
78%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1040 to 1260
Reading and Writing 540 to 660
Math 500 to 600
ACT composite 22 to 28
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.65
- 4.018%
- 3.75 to 3.9929%
- 3.50 to 3.7423%
- 3.25 to 3.4920%
- 3.00 to 3.249.9%
- 2.50 to 2.990.9%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$71,660
a year
- Tuition$52,750
- Fees$1,600
- Food and housing$13,530
- Books and supplies$840
- Transportation and other$2,940
Pacific Lutheran University published $68,905 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$13,627
- $30,001 to $48,000$13,026
- $48,001 to $75,000$16,022
- $75,001 to $110,000$18,495
- Over $110,000$21,998
Financial aid
87%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$45,045
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
25%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $31,198 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Also asks for
- International Student's Certification of Fin... (text cut off in box)
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
39 of 39
Earn credit with a score of 3
39 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $5,280Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 4 | ARTD 100TR |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 4 | ARTD 100TR |
| Art History | 3 | 4 | ARTD 100TR |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 111 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 151 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MATH 151 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 151,152 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 100TR |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | CHIN 102 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | POLS 100TR |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | CSCI 100TR |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CSCI 144 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 4 | CSCI 100TR |
| Drawing | 3 | 4 | ARTD 100TR |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 4 | WRIT 100TR |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 4 | ENGL 100TR |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | ENVT 104 |
| European History | 3 | 4 | HIST 100TR |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | FREN 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | GERM 100TR |
| Human Geography | 3 | 4 | SSCI 100TR |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | LANG 100TR |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | LANG 100TR |
| Latin | 3 | 4 | LANG 100TR |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 4 | ECON 102 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 4 | ECON 101 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 4 | MUSI 100TR |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 100TR |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 125 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 100TR |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 126 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 100TR |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | 4 | PHYS 154 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 100TR |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 153 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 4 | MATH 115 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 4 | MATH 140 |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 | PSYC 101 |
| Research | 3 | 4 | GENR 100TR |
| Seminar | 3 | 4 | GENR 100TR |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | HISP 102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 4 | HISP 100TR |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 | STAT 231 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | POLS 151 |
| United States History | 3 | 4 | HIST 100TR |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 4 | HIST 100TR |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
64%
Come back for a second year
82%
Typical earnings
$71,109
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Pacific Lutheran University$94,537
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 17 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Pacific Lutheran University. The Pacific Lutheran University logo is a trademark of the college.