U Valley Forge vs Pacific Lutheran University

Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Pennsylvania and Washington, University of Valley Forge (UVF) and Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) stand as beacons of higher education, each offering a unique tapestry of academic opportunities and vibrant campus life. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they diverge in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these differences, providing prospective students with a comprehensive overview to help them make informed decisions about their academic journey. Whether you're drawn to UVF's strong Christian heritage or PLU's emphasis on sustainability and social justice, this comparison will guide you towards the institution that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.

	Pacific Lutheran University	University of Valley Forge
Overview
Location	Tacoma, Washington	Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	Suburb: 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%	79.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation	Evangelical	Protestant

Admission
Acceptance rate	88.4%	82.0%
Application fees	$55	$25
SAT range	1150 - 1376	N/A
ACT range	22 - 28	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	11.0%
Students submitting ACT score	6.0%
Total number of applicants	3,220	416
Total number of admissions given out	2,846	341
Admitted students who chose to enroll	510	123
Yield rate	17.9%	36.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Not required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$63,563	$38,508
Average net price	$23,568	$23,944
Tuition	$46,816	$21,760
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $5,330 Meal plan: $6,481	Room/dormitory: $5,900 Meal plan: $4,824
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 $16,055
Students receiving federal student loan	45.0% Average amount $5,091	85.0% Average amount $5,741
Students taking out private loans	6.0% Average amount $15,835	13.0% Average amount $12,925

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	2,373 Men 36.2% Women 63.8%	508 Men 46.9% Women 53.1%
Graduate students	333 Men 27.6% Women 72.4%	75 Men 48.0% Women 52.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	59.8%
International students	1.3%	2.1%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	1,369	616
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	Pennsylvania Maryland New Jersey New York Virginia

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Business Education Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Visual & Performing Arts	Theology Communication and Journalism Business Psychology Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio	11:1	12:1
Institutional accreditation	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	69.4%	55.6%
Dropout rate	30.5%	19.6%
Transferred out	N/A	24.8%
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	Theological and Ministerial Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,099 Year 2: $29,685 Year 3: $49,645 Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $30,735 Year 2: $30,771 Year 3: $38,216 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $28,652 Year 2: $27,204 Year 3: $31,938 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $30,771 Year 3: N/A Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: N/A

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U Valley Forge vs Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University

University of Valley Forge

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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