Pacific Lutheran University vs Azusa Pacific

Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and Azusa Pacific University (APU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning that offer unique educational experiences. PLU, located in the vibrant city of Tacoma, Washington, is a private liberal arts university with a strong emphasis on undergraduate education. APU, situated in the heart of Azusa, California, is a private Christian university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to faith-based learning. While both universities share similarities in their dedication to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover the nuances that set these two universities apart and make an informed decision about which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Azusa Pacific University	Pacific Lutheran University
Overview
Location	Azusa, California	Tacoma, Washington
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	4-1-4
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	79.0%	79.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation	Undenominational	Evangelical

Admission
Acceptance rate	94.1%	88.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $45 Graduate: $45	$55
SAT range	966 - 1266	1150 - 1376
ACT range	19 - 25	22 - 28
Students submitting SAT score	16.0%	11.0%
Students submitting ACT score	3.0%	6.0%
Total number of applicants	3,967	3,220
Total number of admissions given out	3,733	2,846
Admitted students who chose to enroll	636	510
Yield rate	17.0%	17.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Not required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$64,752	$63,563
Average net price	$27,112	$23,568
Tuition	$40,830	$46,816
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $5,316 Meal plan: $4,140	Room/dormitory: $5,330 Meal plan: $6,481
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	99.0% Average amount $27,436	99.0% Average amount $34,413
Students receiving federal student loan	35.0% Average amount $5,109	45.0% Average amount $5,091
Students taking out private loans	4.0% Average amount $19,046	6.0% Average amount $15,835

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	3,939 Men 31.8% Women 68.2%	2,373 Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
Graduate students	4,187 Men 25.9% Women 74.1%	333 Men 27.6% Women 72.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	3.4%	1.3%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	2,467	1,369
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Education Business Psychology Visual & Performing Arts	Health Professions Business Education Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio	10:1	11:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome
Graduation rate	71.5%	69.4%
Dropout rate	28.0%	30.5%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $115,116 Year 2: $106,724 Year 3: $118,408 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $90,222 Year 2: $89,570 Year 3: $97,162 Education, General (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $101,763 Year 2: $90,146 Year 3: $93,165 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $74,455 Year 2: $78,719 Year 3: $89,214 Psychology, Other (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $64,966 Year 2: $59,722 Year 3: $75,095 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $61,775 Year 2: $58,673 Year 3: $69,542 Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $54,492 Year 2: $60,771 Year 3: $68,256 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $65,482 Year 2: $59,425 Year 3: $67,433 Education, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $57,617 Year 2: $60,234 Year 3: $65,281 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $61,760 Year 2: $54,585 Year 3: $62,117	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $75,084 Year 2: $92,632 Year 3: $86,573 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,051 Year 2: $69,338 Year 3: $79,254 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,659 Year 2: $68,875 Year 3: $71,075 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $61,461 Year 2: $54,053 Year 3: $64,188 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $51,494 Year 2: $45,082 Year 3: $52,405 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $41,050 Year 2: $46,556 Year 3: $51,610 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $36,848 Year 3: $49,858 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $33,589 Year 2: $34,420 Year 3: $47,617 Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,575 Year 2: $35,420 Year 3: $46,377 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $36,674 Year 3: $45,113

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