Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$25,368
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$18,273
$30k - $48k
$18,068
$48k - $75k
$21,630
$75k - $110k
$26,943
$110k+
$29,988
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$50,256
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$50,256
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$11,826
Books and Supplies
$702
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
88%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
32%
Average Aid Per Year
$31,432
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
32%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,144
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$26,197
Students receiving state aid
31%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$10,337
Students receiving federal aid
42%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,144
Average Grant & Scholarship By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$42,298
$30k - $48k
$41,330
$48k - $75k
$35,768
$75k - $110k
$28,640
$110k+
$27,998
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$22,417,676
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$55,007,434

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
59%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$7,307
Students receiving federal loans
58%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,190
Average Other Loans Per Year
$16,651
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$19,000
Loan Default Rate
2%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$219

What Students Are Saying

PLU is very expensive, but the quality of education you receive is outstanding. It is never weird or uncomfortable to ask the instructor for help, whether via email, after class, or during office hours. The library is open until 1 am weekdays and offers free tutoring programs if you need help.
Tiffany from Buckley, WA
The financial aid office went out of their way to help me find the money to attend. It was cheaper for me to attend PLU than a state school, and when you factor in the small class sizes, resources for students, and personal attention from professors-PLU is the easy choice.
Jessica from Conover, NC
This school is extremely expensive, but you get so much out of the school that it is worth it. Plus the school financial aid office helps find ways to make the school more affordable.
Alexia from Lake Forest Park, WA
When you ask around campus for the reasons students chose PLU, the great financial aid package is almost always listed in the top three. Yes, it is a private university so obviously it's going to be a bit spendy, especially when looking at the price tag on this site and others like it. However, I strongly encourage you to ignore that terrifying number, at least for now. After applying all the aid they gave me, it was cheaper to attend here than both the instate schools I applied to. Pair that with a small campus atmosphere, small class sizes and other private school perks and I'm practically stealing a great education.
Emily from Great Falls, MT
While you do learn a lot and are able to get to know your professors as well as they can get to know you, the school is fairly expensive for what it offers. Therefore, if you do come here it is imperative that you do well as well as take advantage of office hours. While the campus is nice, it does not look like it is $40k a year school. Many buildings need renovating/remodeling, and to be fair the school has plans on doing so for buildings on campus.
Kid from WA
Most, if not all of the professors at PLU are here because they really want to be here; they have a passion for teaching, for their subjects and their students and its very apparent in classes. It is quite an investment to come here, but PLU is extremely helpful in the amount of financial aid that it's students are given. If you want to come here, PLU will find a way to get you here, and if it is your goal that it will be worth your money, it will be.
Kate from Tacoma, WA
Live on lower campus if you are looking for a nicer dorm. You pay the same to live in the dorm that is 100 years old so apply early to get the one you want. Upper campus is also located near everything (classrooms, University Center, Admin., etc.) and lower campus is more loud and social. Harstad is incredibly outdated compared to the other dorms, but they are huge so apply early if that is important to you. Also GO TO EVERY CLASS!
Lindsy from Tacoma, WA
I am at Pacific Lutheran University on full tuition scholarship, but even if I was not, PLU being a private University gives several scholarships. Under few circumstances will a student attend on no scholarship. And again, even if they were paying full tuition, for the one-on-one time with professors, it is well worth the around $30,000 tuition.
Stephanie from Tacoma, WA
for sure a great bang for the buck university. the financial aid packages are huge and the school is known for the quality of education. many students are on substantial amounts of financial aid.
anon
once you start interacting with the faculty and your fellow students is when you will truly enjoy the university.
nayonni from nevada