Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA
Affordability & debt
- Average net price
- $19,589per year, after aid
- Undergraduates with a federal loan
- 44%
- Undergraduates receiving a Pell grant
- 35%need-based, not repaid
- Typical debt at graduation
- $22,578federal loans, students who finished
- Reducing their balance within 3 years
- 75%of borrowers who entered repayment
What that debt costs to repay. Typical debt here is about $22,578. At 7% over 10 years — the standard federal plan — that is roughly $262 a month, about $31,458 repaid in total, of which $8,880 is interest.
Stretch the same balance over 25 years and the payment drops to $160 a month — but the total climbs to $47,873, roughly $16,415 more in interest. A smaller payment is not a smaller loan.
An estimate, not financial advice: straight amortization at a fixed rate, ignoring fees, interest accrued while enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Figures on this page are averages and medians — what any one family borrows and pays varies widely. Try your own numbers.
Pacific Lutheran University’s net price calculator — every college is required to publish one. It is the only way to get a cost estimate based on your family’s own finances rather than an average.
Published tuition
- In-state tuition
- $52,254published rate
- Out-of-state tuition
- $52,254published rate
The sticker price before any aid. Most students pay less than this — the net price above is what aided students actually paid on average.
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 78%
- Average SAT
- 1,168of admitted students
- Average ACT
- 25of admitted students
Context for the class as a whole, not a prediction about any one applicant.
Outcomes
- Median earnings
- $66,99010 years after entry
Median earnings of former students who received federal aid, measured 10 years after they started.
Campus life
- Campus setting
- Suburb: Large
- Residential character
- Highly residential — most students live on campus
- Religious affiliation
- Evangelical Lutheran Church
Most common fields of study
- Health professions27%
- Business & marketing13%
- Visual & performing arts9%
- Biological & biomedical sciences7%
- Parks, recreation & fitness6%
- Social sciences5%
Share of degrees awarded, by broad field.
Athletics
NCAA Division III with football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
What borrowing would really cost
Starting from the typical debt at Pacific Lutheran University. Change any figure to see your own.
Standard plan — 10 years
$262per month
- Total repaid
- $31,458
- Interest paid
- $8,880
Longer term — 25 years
$160per month
- Total repaid
- $47,873
- Interest paid
- $25,295
Borrow $22,578 and repay it over 25 years instead of 10, and you pay $16,415 more — $47,873 in all, about 2.1× what you borrowed. The monthly payment is smaller; the loan is not.
An estimate, not financial advice. Straight amortization at a fixed rate: it assumes every payment is made on time and the rate never changes, and it leaves out fees, interest that accrues while you’re still enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Planning4College is not a financial advisor and sells no loans. Check real terms with your school’s financial aid office and studentaid.gov.
See if Pacific Lutheran University fits you
Answer a few questions and we’ll show you where it lands — reach, match, or safety — alongside schools like it.
Get your free matchSimilar colleges in Washington
- Whitworth UniversitySpokane, WA
- Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle, WA
- University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA
- Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, WA
- Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA
- Walla Walla UniversityCollege Place, WA