Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University is a private research university in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling about 2,401 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 78.02% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $66,990 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $52,254
- 2024 Average Net Price: $19,589 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 78.02% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,401 98.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 68.57%
- Average SAT Score: 1168
Pacific Lutheran University: what the data shows
Common questions about Pacific Lutheran University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Pacific Lutheran University?
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Tacoma, WA (ZIP 98447-0003).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Pacific Lutheran University public or private?
Pacific Lutheran University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Pacific Lutheran University cost?
Published tuition: $52,254.
Average net price after aid: $19,589.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $13,609 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,948 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,756 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,535 |
| $110,001+ | $26,915 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $209,016.
How hard is it to get into Pacific Lutheran University?
Admission rate: 78.02%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1168 and midpoint ACT 25.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Pacific Lutheran University?
Total enrollment: 2,401 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Pacific Lutheran University?
150%-time completion rate: 68.57%.
First-year retention: 81.9%.
What do graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn?
Median earnings: $52,212 six years after entry; $66,990 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,578.
35.27% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Pacific Lutheran University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (787 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (132 completions)
- CIP 520201 (79 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (44 completions)
- CIP 310505 (40 completions)
- CIP 131299 (37 completions)
- CIP 051382 (31 completions)
- General Psychology (28 completions)
- Communication and Media Studies (27 completions)
- Computer Science (24 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 78.02%; completion rate 68.57%; median earnings $66,990 at 10 years; net price $19,589. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$52,254
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Pacific Lutheran University was $52,254.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$19,589
2024 Value
In 2024 Pacific Lutheran University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $19,589.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$78,356 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$19,589 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$209,016 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Pacific Lutheran University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
35.27% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
44.21% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.10%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Pacific Lutheran University was 0.10%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Pacific Lutheran University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $34,740 | $34,740 | $23,486 |
| 2014 | $36,530 | $36,530 | $24,014 |
| 2015 | $37,950 | $37,950 | $24,797 |
| 2016 | $39,450 | $39,450 | $24,136 |
| 2017 | $40,722 | $40,722 | $24,034 |
| 2018 | $42,436 | $42,436 | $23,821 |
| 2019 | $43,674 | $43,674 | $23,058 |
| 2020 | $46,850 | $46,850 | $23,024 |
| 2021 | $48,226 | $48,226 | $21,023 |
| 2022 | $50,928 | $50,928 | $22,699 |
| 2023 | $50,964 | $50,964 | $21,370 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
78.02% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1168
ACT Average: 25
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pacific Lutheran University in 2024 is 2,401 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
81.9%
2024 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.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
41.45% 100% Completion Time
68.57% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 41.45% of students graduating from Pacific Lutheran University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Pacific Lutheran University.
Return on Investment
$22,578 Median Student Debt
$66,990 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
33.70% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
754.94% Return on Investment
3.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Pacific Lutheran University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 132 completions
CIP 52.0201: 79 completions
General Biological Sciences: 44 completions
CIP 31.0505: 40 completions
CIP 13.1299: 37 completions
CIP 05.1382: 31 completions
General Psychology: 28 completions
Communication and Media Studies: 27 completions
Computer Science: 24 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 787 completions
Most popular programs at Pacific Lutheran University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Pacific Lutheran University graduates.
About
Pacific Lutheran University is a private non-profit institution located in Tacoma, WA, offering 45 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 2,401 students. The admission rate is 78.02%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1168. The institution maintains a 68.57% graduation rate. Approximately 35.27% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Tacoma, WA 98447-0003
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Pacific Lutheran University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
FAQ
How much does Pacific Lutheran University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $52,254 and average net price is $19,589 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Pacific Lutheran University?
The admission rate is 78.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Pacific Lutheran University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Pacific Lutheran University reports midpoint SAT about 1168 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn?
Median earnings are $52,212 six years after entry and $66,990 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pacific Lutheran University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 68.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pacific Lutheran University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,578.
How big is Pacific Lutheran University?
Total enrollment is about 2,401 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Pacific Lutheran University public or private?
Pacific Lutheran University is a private nonprofit institution located in Tacoma, WA.
Is Pacific Lutheran University an HBCU?
No. Pacific Lutheran University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a tribal college?
No. Pacific Lutheran University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Pacific Lutheran University does not meet that proxy (reported share 19.3%).
Is Pacific Lutheran University religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Pacific Lutheran University: Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.