Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington · Private Nonprofit · 78.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Pacific Lutheran University scores 76 (Strong Value). PLU's net price of $19,589 is far below its $52,254 sticker tuition, making its real cost competitive with Washington's public universities for many families. Average 6-year earnings of $39,200 are modest, but the 6.8-year payback reflects the manageable net cost more than exceptional graduate earnings. Median debt of $22,578 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.576 is a yellow flag - not crisis-level but not comfortable. PLU's nursing program is a clear ROI driver; most other programs produce C-grade or worse outcomes.
Pacific Lutheran University scores in the top 17% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Pacific Lutheran University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $52,254/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $52,254/yr |
| Average net price | $19,589/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $78,356 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $66,990 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,578 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $239 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,401 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $52,254/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,589/year, or roughly $78,356 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,609/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,915/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,578, which works out to about $239 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,200) and comes to 0.58, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,609 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,948 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,756 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,535 |
| $110,001+ | $26,915 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $13,609 net per year - about $54,400 over four years. Nursing graduates face a much faster payback; humanities graduates face a much slower one.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $15,756 net and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $22,535. PLU's aid model provides meaningful support to middle-income families up through the $75k threshold. Above that, the cost climbs quickly toward the high-income tier.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $26,915 net per year - about $107,000 over four years. At this price point against $39,200 average earnings, the ROI is marginal unless the student enters nursing or CS. High-income families considering PLU at near-sticker net prices should model the specific program earnings carefully.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pacific Lutheran University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $91,528 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $75,576 | B |
| Biology | $53,077 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $52,113 | D |
| Psychology | $55,118 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $57,317 | D |
| Social Work | $67,458 | B |
| Sociology | $59,853 | C |
| Music | $17,711 | F |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $44,459 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is PLU's largest and strongest program by ROI: 132 graduates, $81,761 year-one earnings, and $91,528 at year four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.355 (ROI grade B) with $29,000 median debt is acceptable against strong and stable healthcare wages in the Seattle/Tacoma market. PLU nursing graduates enter a labor market with persistent demand. This program is the core financial argument for attending PLU.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences earns $78,055 at year one and $128,703 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.302 (ROI grade B+). Graduate count is not reported. The year-four jump to $128k is the strongest four-year earnings figure at PLU and reflects Seattle tech market placement. This is PLU's best ROI program outside of nursing for students who can complete it.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (70 graduates) earns $52,919 at year one and $75,576 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.396 (ROI grade B) and $20,959 median debt. This is a solid ROI for a private school program.
Psychology
Psychology (41 graduates) earns $30,757 at year one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.732 (ROI grade D) and $22,500 median debt. The four-year trajectory of $55,118 is modest. Psychology at PLU's price point requires graduate school to generate meaningful earnings growth, which extends debt and delays payback. Near-term financial performance is poor.
Music
Music (18 graduates) earns $17,711 at year one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.514 (ROI grade F) and $26,815 median debt - PLU's worst financial performer. PLU has a historically strong music program, but the Scorecard data reflects the occupational reality that most music graduates earn very modest wages. Debt-to-earnings above 1.5 means students owe 50% more than their annual income at graduation. Students choosing music should have a clear plan for how they will service this debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Pacific Lutheran University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 78.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-28 |
| Enrollment | 2,401 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,581 |
A 78% acceptance rate makes PLU broadly accessible. The SAT 500-600 Math range indicates a wide academic distribution in the admitted class.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Lutheran University (this school) | 76 | $19,589 | $66,990 |
| Gonzaga University | 81 | $35,119 | $78,892 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | 76 | $40,287 | $84,131 |
| University of Mary | 76 | $17,770 | $60,909 |
| Saint Anselm College | 74 | $34,779 | $73,371 |
| Cornish College of the Arts | 17 | $40,062 | $33,696 |
Who Thrives Here
PLU admits 78% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 500-600 Math and 540-660 Reading, and ACT 22-28 composite. The school is accessible for most college-prepared students. The 35.3% Pell rate reflects PLU's genuine commitment to access in the Puget Sound region.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Pacific Lutheran University pays off. You'd pay about $19,589 a year after aid ($78,356 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $66,990 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 68.6% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,578 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Pacific Lutheran University: Common Questions
Is Pacific Lutheran University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Pacific Lutheran University pays off. It scores 76/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $19,589 a year after aid ($78,356 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $66,990 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.8 years to earn back.
How much does Pacific Lutheran University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $19,589 a year, or roughly $78,356 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Pacific Lutheran University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $66,990 ten years after enrolling, roughly $25,190 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Pacific Lutheran University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.8 years for Pacific Lutheran University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pacific Lutheran University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,578, against average earnings of $39,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Pacific Lutheran University?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.