Pacific Lutheran University vs Nebraska Wesleyan University
Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU) are two private universities with distinct characteristics. PLU, located in Tacoma, Washington, has an acceptance rate of 75%, while NWU, situated in Lincoln, Nebraska, has an acceptance rate of 70%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with PLU's popular majors including Business, Biology, and Psychology, and NWU's popular majors including Business, Education, and Biology. PLU's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 3,082 compared to NWU's 1,800. Additionally, PLU has a higher graduation rate, with 78% of students completing their degrees within six years compared to NWU's 68%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table to
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![]() Nebraska Wesleyan University |
![]() Pacific Lutheran University |
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Overview |
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Location | Lincoln, Nebraska | Tacoma, Washington |
Campus setting | City: 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 | 74.0% | 79.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | Evangelical |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.8% | 88.4% |
Application fees | $55 | |
SAT range | 1040 - 1290 | 1150 - 1376 |
ACT range | 23 - 29 | 22 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 3.0% | 11.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 62.0% | 6.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,507 | 3,220 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,051 | 2,846 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 405 | 510 |
Yield rate | 19.7% | 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) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $54,491 | $63,563 |
Average net price | $25,628 | $23,568 |
Tuition | $37,402 | $46,816 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,244
Meal plan:
$4,700
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Room/dormitory:
$5,330
Meal plan:
$6,481
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $23,870 |
99.0%
Average amount $34,413 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
62.0%
Average amount $5,083 |
45.0%
Average amount $5,091 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $15,217 |
6.0%
Average amount $15,835 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,706
Men 43.0% Women 57.0% |
2,373
Men 36.2% Women 63.8% |
Graduate students |
110
Men 20.9% Women 79.1% |
333
Men 27.6% Women 72.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 28.1% | N/A |
International students | 1.6% | 1.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 919 | 1,369 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Nebraska Colorado California Texas Kansas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 65.8% | 69.4% |
Dropout rate | 6.6% | 30.5% |
Transferred out | 27.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
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