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Pacific Lutheran University

N/A(0)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1890
Founded
1890
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide

About Pacific Lutheran University

Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.

Pacific Lutheran University is a private Christian university that offers 40+ majors and 50+ minors in a wide range of disciplines. The institution has a total enrollment of approximately 3100 students, including 38% of international students, who represent 38 states and 28 countries.

The institute is the first American University conducting study away classes on all 7 continents. It is also the first institute on the West Coast to be awarded the Senator Paul Simon Award for campus internationalization.

With an acceptance of over 80% in the last 5 years, the university is considered to be moderately selective. Pacific Lutheran University admissions are primarily based on the academic grades of the students. The average GPA of the PLU class of 2024 is 3.0 on a scale of4.0. For non-US students, a TOEFL-iBT score of 79 or above is highly significant.

Pacific Lutheran University Rankings

  • Ranked in the top 20 of Best Universities in the West by U.S. News & World Reports.
  • #7 for most innovative College in the West according to U.S. News and World Report.
  • Pacific Lutheran University is one of the top 4% of Masters universities nationwide.
  • Nursing school of PLU has ranked in the top 30% nationally according to U.S. News and World Report
  • Ranked in Top 25 in the U.S. for Creative Arts Scholarships.

Pacific Lutheran University Highlights

Type of University Private
Setting Suburban
Acceptance Rate 86%
Location Tacoma, Washington
Retention Rate 82%.
Total enrolment 3,100
student-faculty ratio 13:1
Basic Tuition Fee for International Students $47,126
Academic Calendar 4-1-4 calendar
Campus Accommodation Available
Financial Aid and Scholarships Available
Admission Helpdesk 800-274-6758
Official Website [email protected]

Pacific Lutheran University Campus & Accomodation

Pacific Lutheran University is located in the Parkland Neighborhood of Tacoma in Washington. The main campus is further divided into 2 sections called “upper campus” and “lower campus”. 

The institute comprises various significant buildings namely Philip Hauge Administration Building, Mortvedt Library, Ramstad Hall, Xavier Hall, among others. The university’s Media Lab has won an Emmy Award. 

There are more than 100 clubs and activities engaging students including 19 athletic teams in NCAA Division III Northwest Conference.

Accommodations

Through its residence halls, PLU offers on campus to the incoming student population. Students can choose from the options as a double room, single room with bath, and designated room with all basic amenities. Students who didn't meet the residency requirements can choose to live off-campus as well.

Accommodation Price per semester (in USD)
Traditional Housing 
Double Room $2,665.00
Design Single $3,330.00
Single-Double $3,465.00
Upper Division Single $3,200.00
South Hall Rates 
Studio A $3,475.00
Studio B $3,550.00
Studio C $3,675.00
1 Bedroom Loft $3,800.00
2 Bedroom Townhouse $3,415.00
2 Bedroom Apartment $3,365.00
4 Bedroom Apartment $3,390.00
5 Bedroom Townhouse $3,390.00

Pacific Lutheran University Programs

The university offers 44 majors and 54 minors, as well as graduate and professional programs in business administration, education, finance, creative writing, marketing analytics, marriage and family therapy, and nursing.

Course Requirements Fees
MBA Bachelor's degree with 3.0 GPA GMAT or GRE TOEFL - 83 $ 46,728
BBA High school GPA 3 TOEFL - 79 250 words Essay $ 46,850
Master of Science in Finance Work experience Bachelor's degree with 3.0 GPA GMAT or GRE TOEFL - 83 $ 40,200
Bachelors of Arts high school GPA 3 TOEFL - 79 ACT - 21 or SAT-500 $46850
Postgraduate Nursing Certificate 2 references Official transcript master's degree with a 3.0 GPA GMAT or GRE TOEFL- 8.3 $45,920

Pacific Lutheran University Admission

The admission process at Pacific Lutheran University is similar for domestic as well as international applicants. The details of the application process are as follows:

How to apply?

Admission portal:
  • Undergraduate: PLU UG Portal
  • Graduate: PLU PG Portal

​​Application Fees- $48

Admission Requirements

  • 2 Letter of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • Financial proof
  • Resume
  • Personal statement of at least 250 words.
  • Passport
  • $200 enrollment deposit
  • English proficiency certificate
    • TOEFL iBT- 79
    • IELTS- 6.5

Pacific Lutheran University Cost of Attendance

A rough estimation of the cost of attendance of pursuing education at Pacific Lutheran University is given below:

Category Cost (in USD)
Tuition and Fees 47,126
Room & Meals 11,482
Books & Supplies 942
Student Health Insurance 1,295
Personal Expenses (approximate) 2,265
Total 63,110

Pacific Lutheran University Scholarships

The average financial aid offered by Pacific Lutheran University is $37,075. Most of the international students qualify for merit-based scholarships offered by PLU. The university expects students to pay at least half all more than the annual tuition fees as well as the living in addition to the miscellaneous expenses on their own to individual, family, or government sources.

PLU also offers need based financial aid to eligible international students, the need based financial aid is offered once all the candidates must be officially admitted to the university and they have to submit a CSS profile online. Endowed scholarships are made available in some years of $3,000 for eligible students.

Scholarship Award
International grants $6,000-$28,000 (renewed)
Nordic grants $30,000/per year (renewed)+ 32 credits
Transfer scholarship Varies
First-year scholarships Varies
Artistic achievement award $1,000 - $7,500 (renewed)

Pacific Lutheran University Alumni

Alumni association of Pacific Lutheran University has a wide global network of over 37,000 active alumni and the university also offers the alumni many benefits and services which includes the following:

  • Athletic Club
  • Career Services
  • Continued Education
  • Health Insurance
  • Job Search
  • Mortvedt Library Use
  • Transcript Request

Notable Alumni:

  • John Marzano- Italian- American opera singer
  • Crystal Aikin- American gospel singer and songwriter
  • Michael Peterson- American country music artist
  • Angela Meade- Winner of Beverly sills artist award
  • Micah Haven- Director of bands at meeker middle school in Tacoma

Pacific Lutheran University Placements

The average salary of some of the job titles are given below:

Job title Salary Range
Marketing director $54k- $66k
Staff accountant $40k- $52k
Communication specialist $54- $62
Sr. compliance officer $122k- $127k
Marketing manager $43k - $106k
Software engineer $77k - $151k

Pacific Lutheran University is well-known for its emphasis on work-study opportunities, generously endowed scholarships, and an easy-to-use financial aid application process. U.S. News and World Report rank the university tenth among the country's "Best Value Schools," and Best Value Schools both name it one of the best value schools in Washington.

FAQs

Ques. What type of courses are offered at the PLU?

Ans. PLU offers more than four teenagers and 50 minors in many disciplines. PLU also offers first to graduate programmes in disciplines like culture in business administration, creative writing, finance, marketing analytic, marriage and family therapy, education, and nursing.

Ques. Does PLU rank nationally?

Ans. PLU rank at #339 in college ranking according to the Times higher University Rankings.

Ques. What will be the accommodation cost in court by a student of PLU?

Ans. If a student is living in an on-campus accommodation one will cost around $10,520 and if a student is living with their parents the accommodation can cost about $3270.

Ques. How many countries are represented by PLU?

Ans. 23 countries are represented every year with international students enrolled in PLU.

Ques. How many campuses are owned by PLU?

Ans. PLU owns only one campus which is divided into two sections namely upper campus and lower campus.

Courses & Fees

Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way

Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.

Courses

44

Fee from

₹33,08,884.2

Exams

IELTS · TOEFL

Showing 5 of 39 bachelors

Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 47.5 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 50,720 /Yr
Fee trendTuition progression
Official Program Page
Admission Guide

Admission Process

Admissions at Pacific Lutheran University invites international students coming from various countries. The priority deadlines for the same are in four intakes are October 15, November 15, December 15, January 15. Usually, the admissions are done on a rolling basis but students are still advised to apply as soon as possible. 

The Pacific Lutheran University offers 40 majors and more than 50 minors in the fields of Business, Arts, and Health Sciences. Students can easily opt for admission by submitting an online application offered at a fee of 50USD for certain programs. Once filling the application, students are required to submit scores of standardised tests in US.  

During the admission procedure, the university does not lay down any minimum GPA requirements for the programs offered by Pacific Lutheran University but it seeks students with challenging college preparatory curriculum, leadership qualities, and special or unique talents. Pacific Lutheran University is a test-optional university, thus SAT/ACT or GMAT/GRE scores are not mandatory.

Highlights

Application Portal Online
Application Fee Varies with graduate programs
Acceptance rate 86%
Academic calendar Semester-based
Application deadline Rolling basis
Exams Accepted IELTS/ TOEFL/ SAT/ ACT
GMAT/GRE Optional
Financial Aid Grants and Scholarships
Admission Enquiry [email protected]

Pacific Lutheran University Admission Deadlines

The university accepts admission applications on a rolling basis after the priority deadlines. Applicants must apply within deadlines to be eligible for scholarship consideration.

Courses Priority Deadlines
Undergraduate Four deadlines- October 15, November 15, December 15, January 15
Graduate Varies with programs

Pacific Lutheran University International Student Admissions

Pacific Lutheran University accepts international students from over 19 countries around the world. International students are required to submit some additional documents to be considered for admissions.

Application Portal: PLU’s online application or the Common Application
Application Fee: Undergraduate - Nil, Graduate - Varies with programs
Admission Requirements: 

  • Completed Application
  • Official High School or College Transcripts
  • Essay/Personal Statement
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • SAT/ACT Scores (unless test-optional)
    • SAT University Code- 4597
    • ACT University Code- 4470
  • Proof of Financial Support - Bank Statements
  • Photocopy of the Passport (Biographical page)
  • There may be program-specific requirements.

English Language Proficiency Test Scores

International applicants from non-English speaking countries need to demonstrate their English Language Proficiency by submitting one of the following scores. Applicants who do not fulfill this requirement may be offered conditional admission.

Test Score (Minimum)
TOEFL (iBT)  79
IELTS 6.5
PTE 56

Visa Process for International Students

International applicants need to apply for an F-1 or J-1 student visa to study in the USA. The university will issue the I-20 or DS 2019 form required for visa application after the student has been successfully admitted and submitted the enrollment deposit.

After I-20 form, pay the SEVIS fee and apply for a visa through the US Embassy. Following documents will be required to apply for a visa-

  • Acceptance Letter
  • I-20 Form or DS-2019 form issued by the University.
  • Passport
  • SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
  • Documents demonstrating your current educational qualification
  • Proof of Financial support
  • Information about family or other ties
  • English Proficiency Scores, if applicable

Finally, schedule and attend your visa interview.

Pacific Lutheran University Undergraduate Admissions

Pacific Lutheran University offers undergraduate programs in the fields of Business Administration, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Biology, Economics, German, etc. The university offers more than 40 majors and 50 minors.
Application Portal: PLU’s online application or the Common Application
Application Fee: Not Required
Admission Requirements: 

  • Official High School or College Transcripts
  • Personal Essay (250 Words)
  • One Academic Recommendation
  • Minimum GPA of 4.00 if applying for financial aids.
  • SAT/ACT Scores (Optional)
  • Resume
  • Passport
  • English Proficiency Tests

Pacific Lutheran University Graduate Admissions

Pacific Lutheran University offers Master’s degrees in Business Administration, Finance, Kinesiology, Nursing, Creative Writing, etc. The application portal, application fee, and admission requirements vary with programs. The admission requirement for some of the popular graduate programs at Pacific Lutheran University are tabulated below:

Programs Masters of Business Administration (MBA) MFA in Creative Writing Master of Arts in Education Master of Science in Kinesiology Master of Science in Nursing
Application Portal Business CAS GradCAS GradCAS GradCAS NursingCAS
Application Fee 48 USD 55 USD 55 USD 55 USD 60 USD
Priority Deadlines Summer and Fall - May 1
Spring- December 1
Early Application- November 30
Final Application- February 15
November 1 or February 1 February 15 and March 15 Early Application- December 1
Final Application- January 15
Transcripts Required Required Required Required Required
Letter of Recommendation 2 LORs 2 LORs 2 LORs 2 LORs 2 LORs
Scores accepted GRE/GMAT (Optional) Not required Not required Not required GRE (Optional)
Resume Required Required but have no impact if there is no experience Required Required Required
Personal Statement Required (300-400 words) Required Not required Required Required
Other requirements - Creative Writing Sample, 500 words Literary Critique An essay, WEST-B in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics - -
Interview Not Compulsory Not Required Required; Deadlines- November 27 to December 1
and February 26 to March 2
Not Required Not Required

Pacific Lutheran University Admissions are quite competitive. Applications are evaluated not only on the basis of academic excellence but also on leadership qualities, the strength of curriculum studied, and overall personality of the student. The final admission decision will be communicated to students within five business days after all the required documents are received. Applicants can track their application to the admission portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. What are the minimum admission requirements?

Ans. There are no minimum GPA requirements but international applicants need to submit minimum required English Proficiency Scores.

Ques. By when can I apply to Pacific Lutheran University?

Ans. There are no fixed deadlines but a priority deadline of May 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the Spring semester.

Ques. Is it mandatory to submit SAT/ACT scores?

Ans. No, but a good SAT score may help to get a better scholarship.

Ques. What are the acceptance rate and the student retention rate of the Pacific Lutheran University?

Ans. The acceptance rate of the university is 86% and the student retention rate is 83%.

Ques. Does the Pacific Lutheran University provide for the on-campus housing facilities?

Ans. Yes, the university provides an on-campus housing facility and has an application process for the same too.

Placements & Recruiters

Pacific Lutheran University Placement Details

Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Tacoma, Washington, United States.

Recruiters
N/A
Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric

Highest Package

N/A

Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.

Placement Metric

Average Package

N/A

Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.

Placement information is currently limited.

More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.

Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2019

Highlights
2019
  • Best overall country rank: #277
  • Overall: #277 in country
  • Top source: FORBES
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall
  • 1 ranking record in 2019

2023

Highlights
2023
  • Business: #51 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Business
  • 1 ranking record in 2023

2024

Highlights
2024
  • Nursing: #32 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 2 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Business, Nursing
  • 1 ranking record in 2024

Contact Information

12180 Park Avenue S. Tacoma, WA 98447

+1-800-274-6758