Quad

Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WAQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forVery diverseGenerous aidTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Pacific Lutheran admits about 8 in 10 applicants (78%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 48% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

78%

78%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

4,992

Admitted

3,895

Yield

14%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1040–1260

8001600
ACT middle 50%

22–28

1836
Applications +45% since fall 2014 · admit rate 75% → 78%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,401 undergrads, where 35% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

2.4K

undergrads · larger than 62% of colleges

Diversity index

0.73

Pell Grant

35%

about the median

First generation

30%

below the median

Large suburbNCAA D-III · Northwest ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.52 → 0.73 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (27% of graduates). 12 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 59% of colleges. 70% of faculty are full-time. Spends $12,280 a year on instruction per student.

12 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 59% of colleges

Most popular major

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

27% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$128.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

70%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$12.3K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $26,916 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $2.6K more than the national median. The 98% who received grants paid $22,299 on average; the other 2% paid the full sticker price of $66,837.

60%

$26.9K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $2.6K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$66,837 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
32% · avg $35K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Very generous

grants cover 60% of full price

Federal loans

44%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −24% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $66,990 ten years after enrolling, more than at 80% of colleges; 72% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

72%

72%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$67K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.6K

≈ $239/month for 10 years

Retention

82%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 68% → 69% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 5% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 24%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 45% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 75% to 78%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −24% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +45%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 75% → 78%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.52 → 0.73

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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Molloy University

82% admit · SAT 1189 · 3.2K undergrads

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Stetson University

72% admit · SAT 1165 · 2.3K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Pacific Lutheran University (2026)

    Pacific Lutheran University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 236230 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything