Pacific Lutheran Universitycollege in Tacoma, WA
Tacoma, Washington · Private nonprofit, 4-year
At a glance
Average net price
$19,589
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
68.6%
Admission rate
78%
Undergrad size
2,401
In-state tuition
$52,254
Out-of-state tuition
$52,254
Cost of attendance
$62,459
Median earnings (10y)
$66,990
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,168
- ACT midpoint
- 25
- Retention
- 81.9%
- Locale
- Suburb
Programs breakdown
20 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by health (22%), social sciences (22%), humanities & arts (20%).
- STEM19%
- Health22%
- Business10%
- Humanities & arts20%
- Social sciences22%
- Trades & services7%
- Health professions22.2%~533 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Business9.8%~234 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- ~194 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Social sciences7.7%~186 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~174 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~161 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Education5.9%~141 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~121 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Communication4.5%~109 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Psychology4.0%~97 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Computer science3.9%~93 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English3.2%~77 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~73 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Mathematics2.4%~56 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- History2.4%~56 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~28 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~24 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~20 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~12 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~12 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 230 | $69,659 | $29,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 150 | $41,050 | $20,959 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master's | 121 | $61,461 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 88 | $27,207 | $25,536 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 81 | $27,895 | $22,626 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 72 | $28,221 | $22,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master's | 52 | $75,084 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 50 | $59,828 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 44 | $33,589 | $25,499 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 44 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 39 | $51,494 | $19,500 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | Master's | 36 | $37,994 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | First professional | 36 | — | — |
| History. | Bachelor's | 36 | $29,516 | — |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 35 | — | $20,250 |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor's | 30 | $39,943 | $23,000 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 30 | $31,575 | $21,000 |
| Music. | Bachelor's | 29 | $29,749 | $26,815 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 27 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | Master's | 27 | $49,431 | — |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 27 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 27 | $24,155 | $25,000 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | Bachelor's | 26 | — | — |
| Social Work. | Bachelor's | 26 | — | $26,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 25 | $20,987 | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | Bachelor's | 25 | $24,725 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | Bachelor's | 24 | — | $24,125 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | Bachelor's | 23 | — | — |
| Criminology. | Bachelor's | 22 | — | — |
| Physics. | Bachelor's | 21 | — | — |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 18 | $41,580 | $20,427 |
| Anthropology. | Bachelor's | 18 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor's | 16 | $50,648 | $29,740 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Master's | 15 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies. | Bachelor's | 14 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master's | 14 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | Bachelor's | 12 | $21,237 | $20,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Bachelor's | 11 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 11 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics. | Master's | 6 | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized institution located in Tacoma, Washington, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 2,401 undergraduate students in a suburb setting. The most popular fields of study include Health professions, Business, Visual & performing arts.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Pacific Lutheran University — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $19,589 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Published tuition is $52,254 per year before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $62,459 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 68.6%, a above-average completion outcome. 81.9% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $66,990 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Pacific Lutheran University confers degrees and certificates across 20 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Health professions, Business, Visual & performing arts. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by health (22% of credentials), social sciences (22% of credentials), humanities & arts (20% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Pacific Lutheran University accepts 78% of applicants, making it moderately selective. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,168. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 25.
Location & campus
Set in Tacoma, Washington (suburb), Pacific Lutheran University draws students from across Washington and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Pacific Lutheran University
Q.How much does Pacific Lutheran University cost?
The average net price at Pacific Lutheran University is $19,589 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $62,459.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Pacific Lutheran University?
Pacific Lutheran University has a 6-year graduation rate of 68.6% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Pacific Lutheran University?
Pacific Lutheran University admits 78% of applicants, which is considered moderately selective.
Q.How much do Pacific Lutheran University graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Pacific Lutheran University graduate earns $66,990 per year.
Q.What programs does Pacific Lutheran University offer?
Pacific Lutheran University offers degrees across 12 program areas. The most popular by share of graduates are Health professions, Business, Visual & performing arts.
Q.What is tuition at Pacific Lutheran University?
Published tuition is $52,254 in-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Pacific Lutheran University located?
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Tacoma, Washington (ZIP 98447).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Pacific Lutheran University at their official website.