Texas Christian University vs Pacific Lutheran University

Texas Christian University (TCU) and Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning that offer unique educational experiences. TCU, located in Fort Worth, Texas, is a private research university with a vibrant campus and a diverse student body. PLU, situated in Tacoma, Washington, is a private liberal arts university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to community engagement. While both universities share a 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 which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Pacific Lutheran University logo

Pacific Lutheran University

Texas Christian University logo

Texas Christian University

Overview

Location Tacoma, Washington Fort Worth, Texas
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% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Evangelical Protestant

Admission

Acceptance rate 88.4% 53.6%
Application fees $55
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1150 - 1376 1130 - 1350
ACT range 22 - 28 26 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 11.0% 17.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0% 22.0%
Total number of applicants 3,220 19,782
Total number of admissions given out 2,846 10,606
Admitted students who chose to enroll 510 2,560
Yield rate 17.9% 24.1%
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 $70,428
Average net price $23,568 $42,574
Tuition $46,816 $51,570
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,330

Meal plan: $6,481
Room/dormitory: $8,340

Meal plan: $5,700
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $34,413
81.0%
Average amount $29,211
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $5,091
27.0%
Average amount $5,339
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $15,835
10.0%
Average amount $27,820

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,373
Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
10,222
Men 39.7% Women 60.3%
Graduate students 333
Men 27.6% Women 72.4%
1,716
Men 40.4% Women 59.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 59.0%
International students 1.3% 4.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,369 5,083
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Texas California Illinois Colorado Minnesota

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 69.4% 82.8%
Dropout rate 30.5% 2.8%
Transferred out N/A 14.2%
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: $163,986
  • Year 2: $157,472
  • Year 3: $144,992
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,594
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $123,205
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,918
  • Year 2: $97,663
  • Year 3: $109,836
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,869
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $86,418
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,621
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $84,099
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,234
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,296
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,234
  • Year 2: $63,600
  • Year 3: $75,826
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,711
  • Year 2: $58,221
  • Year 3: $74,252
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,322
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $71,244
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,231
  • Year 2: $66,737
  • Year 3: $67,558

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