Pacific Lutheran University was founded in 1890 by Norwegian Lutheran pioneers who had recently arrived in the Pacific Northwest. The university was originally named Pacific Lutheran Academy and College, and its first classes were held in a small wooden building. In 1905, the school was renamed to Pacific Lutheran College and moved to its current location in Parkland, Washington. It was at this time that the college began its transition from a liberal arts academy to a four-year college offering degrees in theology, philosophy, and education.
In 1926, Pacific Lutheran College earned accreditation from the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools, allowing it to offer bachelor’s degrees for the first time. In 1960, it became an independent institution and changed its name once again to Pacific Lutheran University. Since then, PLU has grown significantly; there are now over 3,000 undergraduate students enrolled at the university. PLU is also home to several masters programs as well as a doctoral program in nursing practice. The university offers over one hundred majors and minors across five colleges: Arts & Sciences; Business; Education & Kinesiology; Nursing & Health Sciences; and Graduate Studies & Research. In addition to academic excellence, PLU is also known for its commitment to community service through initiatives such as their annual Day of Service event which brings students together with local organizations for volunteer projects around Tacoma. See topschoolsintheusa for top high schools in New Jersey.
Pacific Lutheran University, as one of the top colleges ranked by major educational institutions, has impressed us by its high selectivity and student friendly application process during admissions. The following tables detail 2018 class profile, including total applications received, average high school GPA, SAT scores/ACT scores, and acceptance rates of Pacific Lutheran University. To learn more about GPA, SAT and ACT scores information, please follow the links below. If you want to find even more about Pacific Lutheran University, such as tuition fees and scholarships, you can click the link after tables to visit the school’s official website.
Official website: https://www.abbreviationfinder.org/acronyms/plu_pacific-lutheran-university.html
Admissions Stats
Pacific Lutheran University is a private Christian university located in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 1890, the university has a long history of providing quality education to its students. PLU’s current enrollment is over 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students, representing over 40 states and 20 countries. The student body is composed of a diverse mix of backgrounds, with nearly half identifying as non-white or non-Christian. PLU offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and minors and more than 20 graduate programs across five schools: Arts & Sciences, Business, Education & Kinesiology, Nursing & Health Sciences and Theology & Ministry.
The admissions process at Pacific Lutheran University is competitive, with an acceptance rate of 85%. Admitted students tend to have above-average test scores, with the average SAT score being 1223 and the average ACT score being 25. Over 90 percent of students admitted to PLU are in the top 25 percent of their high school class. Additionally, more than 75 percent of accepted applicants had a GPA higher than 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in their high school coursework. The application process includes submitting an application form along with official transcripts from all high schools attended as well as ACT or SAT scores for freshman applicants and letters of recommendation for transfer applicants.
Fall 2022 Selectivity
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2022 acceptance rate | 78% |
| Early decision acceptance rate | N/A |
| Early action acceptance rate | N/A |
| Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students) | 78% |
Fall 2022 Applications, Acceptances & Enrollments
| Applicants | 2,837 |
| Female applicants | 1,676 |
| Male applicants | 1,161 |
| Applicants accepted | 2,199 |
| Female applicants accepted | 1,342 |
| Male applicants accepted | 857 |
| Freshman enrollment | 689 |
| Female freshman enrollment | 416 |
| Male freshman enrollment | 273 |
| Early decision applicants | N/A |
| Early decision applicants accepted | N/A |
| Early decision applicants enrolled | N/A |
| Early action applicants | N/A |
| Early action applicants accepted | N/A |
| Early action applicants enrolled | N/A |
| Total enrolled incoming freshmen who were accepted under early acceptance or early action | N/A |
Fall 2022 Wait List
| School has a wait list | No |
| Applicants placed on wait list | N/A |
| Students accepting place on wait list | N/A |
| Students accepted from wait list | N/A |
Fall 2022 High School Rank
| Freshman students submitting high school class standing | 28% |
Fall 2022 High School GPA
| Freshman students submitting high school GPA | 98% |
| Average high school GPA | 3.7 |
| High school GPA 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
Fall 2022 Freshman SAT Scores
| Freshman students submitting SAT scores | 76% |
| SAT Critical Reading average score | 563 |
| SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range | 500-630 |
| SAT Math average score | 558 |
| SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range: | 500-620 |
| SAT Writing average score | N/A |
| SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range | 490-610 |
| SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
Fall 2022 Freshman ACT Scores
| Freshman students submitting ACT scores | 24% |
| Average ACT Composite score | 25 |
| ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range | 22-28 |
| ACT English 25th-75th percentile range | 22-27 |
| ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range | 22-30 |