Pacific Lutheran University vs University of Portland

Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and the University of Portland (UP) are two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique educational experiences. PLU, a private Lutheran university in Tacoma, Washington, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to UP's 67%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with PLU excelling in nursing, business, and education, while UP is known for its strong engineering, nursing, and business programs. PLU's student body is predominantly female (58%), while UP has a more balanced gender ratio. In terms of graduation rates, UP holds a slight edge over PLU, with a 79% graduation rate compared to PLU's 76%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Pacific Lutheran University logo

Pacific Lutheran University

University of Portland logo

University of Portland

Overview

Location Tacoma, Washington Portland, Oregon
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system 4-1-4 Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 79.0% 90.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Evangelical Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 88.4% 81.2%
Application fees $55 $50
SAT range 1150 - 1376 1165 - 1360
ACT range 22 - 28 26 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 11.0% 18.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0% 10.0%
Total number of applicants 3,220 12,044
Total number of admissions given out 2,846 9,778
Admitted students who chose to enroll 510 911
Yield rate 17.9% 9.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $63,563 $63,438
Average net price $23,568 $35,535
Tuition $46,816 $49,424
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,330

Meal plan: $6,481
Room/dormitory: $10,556

Meal plan: $6,248
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $34,413
100.0%
Average amount $30,748
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $5,091
43.0%
Average amount $4,884
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $15,835
4.0%
Average amount $21,458

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,373
Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
3,589
Men 38.0% Women 62.0%
Graduate students 333
Men 27.6% Women 72.4%
444
Men 35.1% Women 64.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 69.7%
International students 1.3% 3.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,369 2,166
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Oregon California Washington Hawaii Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 69.4% 80.8%
Dropout rate 30.5% 3.6%
Transferred out N/A 15.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,806
  • Year 2: $132,866
  • Year 3: $127,021
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,456
  • Year 2: $85,538
  • Year 3: $107,900
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,660
  • Year 2: $78,612
  • Year 3: $85,638
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,479
  • Year 2: $72,510
  • Year 3: $80,550
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,084
  • Year 2: $70,296
  • Year 3: $76,962
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,009
  • Year 2: $61,144
  • Year 3: $70,813
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,727
  • Year 2: $48,041
  • Year 3: $68,336
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,261
  • Year 2: $58,402
  • Year 3: $67,610
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,438
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $65,757
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,067
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $60,165

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