Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University's 156-acre campus is located in Parkland, Washington, a suburban setting near Tacoma. Known for its strong sense of community, the university fosters a student body engaged in service and social justice initiatives. With a focus on undergraduate education, PLU organizes its academic programs into four colleges, including Health Professions and Natural Sciences. The university maintains an affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Financial Aid
The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Pacific Lutheran University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 33% of students receive Pell Grants; 44% take federal loans.
Average net price across income brackets is $19,944, roughly 61% lower than the published tuition.
Net Price by Family Income
Academic Year 2025| Income Bracket | Avg Net Price | 4-Year Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $30K | $13,847 | $55,388 |
| $30K – $48K | $13,035 | $52,140 |
| $48K – $75K | $18,653 | $74,612 |
| $75K – $110K | $24,898 | $99,592 |
| $110K+ | $29,289 | $117,156 |
| Sticker price (no aid) | $50,964 | $203,856 |
Programs at Pacific Lutheran University
17 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Degree Program | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools → |
76
|
$78,055/yr | Very High | 4.2x |
|
Nursing
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare across schools → |
73
|
$81,761/yr | High | 3.2x |
|
Subject-Area Teaching
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Compare across schools → |
58
|
$57,683/yr | High | 1.8x |
|
Teacher Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Compare across schools → |
58
|
$57,624/yr | High | 2.1x |
|
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools → |
58
|
$52,919/yr | High | 2.5x |
| Economics Compare across schools → |
47
|
$43,806/yr | Very High | 1.1x |
| Chemistry Compare across schools → |
44
|
$44,555/yr | High | 1.2x |
|
Political Science
Political Science and Government Compare across schools → |
41
|
$41,518/yr | Very High | 1.0x |
|
Health & Physical Education
Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools → |
33
|
$33,449/yr | Moderate | 2.0x |
| Sociology Compare across schools → |
31
|
$35,317/yr | High | 1.9x |
|
Biology
Biology, General Compare across schools → |
28
|
$36,766/yr | High | 1.4x |
| Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools → |
28
|
$33,970/yr | High | 1.9x |
|
Psychology
Psychology, General Compare across schools → |
25
|
$30,757/yr | High | 1.6x |
|
Theater & Drama
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools → |
22
|
$25,754/yr | Moderate | 0.3x |
|
Romance Languages
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Compare across schools → |
20
|
$24,773/yr | Very High | 0.2x |
|
Fine Arts
Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools → |
18
|
$23,766/yr | Moderate | 0.4x |
| Music Compare across schools → |
15
|
$17,711/yr | High | 1.0x |
More Colleges in Washington
Top-scored 4-year colleges and universities elsewhere in Washington, ranked by average DegreeOutlook Score across their programs.