Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447-0003
About Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University is a private research university in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling about 2,401 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 78.02% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $66,990 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Pacific Lutheran University charges about 1.8× the national private non-profit median tuition ($52,254).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is about 6.3×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 68.57%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $66,990.
Research findings
Finding
Average net price at Pacific Lutheran University is about 63% below published tuition.
Published tuition is $52,254; average net price is $19,589 in the latest Scorecard extract.
Interpretation: Institutional aid and grants compress sticker price into a substantially lower typical undergraduate cost signal.
Limitation: Average net price masks variation by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the campus average.
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Pacific Lutheran University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 755% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Lutheran University | $52,254 | $19,589 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Washington (state median) | $8,256 | $9,863 | 70 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 63% below published tuition at Pacific Lutheran University
Key findings
- Pacific Lutheran University's average net price ($19,589) is 63% below published tuition ($52,254).
- Pacific Lutheran University charges about 1.8× the national private non-profit median tuition ($52,254).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is about 6.3×.
Pacific Lutheran University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $52,254
Finding Pacific Lutheran University charges about 1.8× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $52,254. That is about 1.8× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Washington median ($8,256), sticker tuition is about 6.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 4.4×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Pacific Lutheran University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Pacific Lutheran University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Pacific Lutheran University is $19,589.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $19,589 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $9,726 above the Washington median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $889 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Pacific Lutheran University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 63% lower after grants and scholarships.
Pacific Lutheran University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Pacific Lutheran University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Completion, earnings, and net price together describe a campus where sticker price overstates typical undergraduate cost while outcomes remain at the high end of Scorecard distributions.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$52,254
Avg. net price
$19,589
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Pacific Lutheran University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse132
- Business Administration and Management, General79
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General44
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology40
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other37
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 19% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1168
- Midpoint ACT: 25
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Pacific Lutheran University is a good school for those looking for strong completion and solid mid-career earnings—especially where average net price sits well below published tuition (about 63% lower in this extract).
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Pacific Lutheran University.
Campus
Location
Tacoma, WA
City / state
- ZIP
- 98447-0003
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 5% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
2,401
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,678
- Graduate
- 351
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$22,578
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 35.27%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Pacific Lutheran University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1168 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 25 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Pacific Lutheran University reported total enrollment of about 2,401 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 36% male and 64% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (44.8%), Hispanic or Latino (19.3%), and Two or More Races (11.4%). About 35.27% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 29.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pacific Lutheran University in 2024 is 2,401 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,678 students. Graduate enrollment is about 351 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.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 16% male / 84% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 49% male / 51% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 18% male / 82% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Pacific Lutheran University graduates earn a median of $66,990 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Pacific Lutheran University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $66,990. Median federal loan debt: $22,578. Average net price used in cost models: $19,589.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Pacific Lutheran University graduates report median earnings of $66,990 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Pacific Lutheran University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (45 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Pacific Lutheran University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Pacific Lutheran University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Pacific Lutheran University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$117.7M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Washington median 9.9× the median ($11.9M)
- Far West median 7.0× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 4.5× the median ($26.4M)
- Washington median 9.6× the median ($4,513)
- Far West median 5.9× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 3.6× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 69.6%
- Washington median 25.3 pp below median (94.9%)
- Far West median 23.9 pp above median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 11.7 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,581
- Washington median 0.90× the median ($9,588)
- Far West median 0.89× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $12,280
- Washington median 1.4× the median ($8,580)
- Far West median 1.7× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 1.7× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Pacific Lutheran University at a glance
Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University is a private non-profit institution in Tacoma, WA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralBiology/Biological Sciences, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian44.8%Hispanic or Latino19.3%Two or More Races11.4%
Schools near Pacific Lutheran University
Other campuses in Tacoma, WA when available, plus nearby institutions in Washington.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Washington, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pacific Lutheran University located?
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Tacoma, WA.
What is Pacific Lutheran University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Pacific Lutheran University is 78.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 4,139 applicants and 3,333 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Pacific Lutheran University's tuition?
Pacific Lutheran University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $52,254 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $19,589 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Pacific Lutheran University cost?
Reported tuition is $52,254 and average net price is $19,589 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,008 annually.
Why is Pacific Lutheran University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Pacific Lutheran University, published tuition is $52,254 while average net price is $19,589—about 63% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Pacific Lutheran University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($19,589), completion (68.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($66,990). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Pacific Lutheran University?
Pacific Lutheran University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,678 students, White (44.8%), Hispanic or Latino (19.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Pacific Lutheran University?
About 29.6% of students at Pacific Lutheran University are first-generation college students.
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.
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.