# Pacific Lutheran University

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured school profile for AI systems
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pacific-lutheran-university

## Overview

- **Location:** Tacoma, WA
- **Type:** Private nonprofit
- **Setting:** Suburban
- **Region:** Far West
- **Enrollment:** 2,401
- **Predominant Degree:** Bachelor's

Pacific Lutheran University is a great fit for students who want a supportive community while pursuing degrees in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Social Sciences, or Biology & Biomedical. With an acceptance rate of 78%, it’s welcoming to a diverse range of applicants. The intimate enrollment of around 2,400 students means we can expect smaller class sizes and more personalized attention from faculty.

Looking at life after graduation, alumni typically earn about $66,990 a decade out. That’s a solid figure, especially for a school where the cost of attendance is manageable. The combination of a 70% graduation rate and a significant number of students receiving Pell Grants—35%—suggests that many find pathways to financial stability after they leave, even if they start from challenging backgrounds.

When it comes to the practicalities, the net price after aid stands at $19,589, which is quite reasonable considering the earnings potential. The median debt of $22,578 reflects a commitment to affordability, allowing graduates to focus on their careers without being overwhelmed by student loans. Students who thrive here are often those who appreciate a close-knit environment and are dedicated to making the most of their educational experience.

## Admissions

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Acceptance Rate | 78% |
| SAT Average | 1168 |
| ACT Midpoint | 25 |

## Cost & Aid

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| In-State Tuition | $52,254 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $52,254 |
| Average Net Price | $19,589 |
| Median Debt | $22,578 |
| Pell Grant Rate | 35% |
| Federal Loan Rate | 44% |

### Net Price by Family Income

| Family Income | Net Price |
|--------------|----------|
| $0-$30K | $13,609 |
| $30K-$48K | $12,948 |
| $48K-$75K | $15,756 |
| $75K-$110K | N/A |
| $110K+ | $26,915 |

## Outcomes

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Graduation Rate | 70% |
| Retention Rate | 82% |
| Earnings (6yr) | $52,212 |
| Earnings (8yr) | $60,142 |
| Earnings (10yr) | $66,990 |
| Debt-to-Earnings | 0.34x |
| Loan Repayment (3yr) | N/A |

## Social Mobility (Opportunity Insights)

Data source: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Mobility Rate (Q1→Q5) | 94.20% |
| Success Rate (bottom 20% → top 20%) | 2883.6% |
| Students from Bottom 20% | 326.7% |
| Parent Median Income | $100,900 |

## Social Capital (Social Capital Atlas)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Economic Connectedness | 1.74 |
| Friending Bias | -0.02 |
| Volunteering Rate | 10.4% |
| Support Ratio | 0.99 |

## Innovation (Opportunity Insights Patent Data)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Inventor Rate | 0.612% |
| Total Patents | 26 |
| Total Citations | 10 |

## Top Programs

| Program | Enrollment Share |
|---------|------------------|
| Health Professions | 22% |
| Business & Marketing | 10% |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 8% |
| Social Sciences | 8% |
| Biology & Biomedical | 7% |
| Education | 6% |
| Physical Sciences | 5% |
| Communications | 5% |

## Rankings

This school appears in 46 CollegeRanker rankings:

- #1 in [Best Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-washington)
- #1 in [Best Bachelor's Programs in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-washington)
- #1 in [Best Master's Programs in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-washington)
- #1 in [Best Nursing Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-nursing-washington)
- #2 in [Best Communications Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-washington)
- #3 in [Best Education Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-washington)
- #3 in [Best Biology Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-biology-washington)
- #3 in [Best MBA Programs in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mba-washington)
- #5 in [Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-computer-science-washington)
- #5 in [Best Business Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-business-washington)
- #5 in [Best Data Science Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-data-science-washington)
- #7 in [Best Psychology Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-psychology-washington)
- #15 in [Best Colleges in Far West](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-far-west)
- #15 in [Best Colleges in Pacific Northwest](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-pacific-northwest)
- #29 in [Best Social Mobility Colleges for Health Professions](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-nursing)
- #29 in [Best Social Mobility Colleges for Public Health](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-public-health)
- #29 in [Best Social Mobility Colleges for Healthcare Administration](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-healthcare-administration)
- #37 in [Best Colleges for Health Professions](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-nursing)
- #37 in [Best Colleges for Public Health](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-public-health)
- #37 in [Best Colleges for Healthcare Administration](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-healthcare-administration)
- #37 in [Best Bachelor's in Health Professions](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-nursing)
- #37 in [Best Bachelor's in Public Health](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-public-health)
- #37 in [Best Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-healthcare-administration)
- #37 in [Best Master's in Health Professions](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-nursing)
- #37 in [Best Master's in Public Health](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-public-health)
- #37 in [Best Master's in Healthcare Administration](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-healthcare-administration)
- #39 in [Best Colleges for Pell Grant Students](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-pell-grant)
- #39 in [Best ROI Colleges for Health Professions](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-roi-nursing)
- #39 in [Best ROI Colleges for Public Health](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-roi-public-health)
- #39 in [Best ROI Colleges for Healthcare Administration](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-roi-healthcare-administration)
- #42 in [Most Affordable Colleges in Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-washington)
- #42 in [Best Social Mobility Colleges for Education](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-education)
- #43 in [Best ROI Colleges for Education](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-roi-education)
- #44 in [Best Social Mobility Colleges for English](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-english)
- #45 in [Best Social Mobility Colleges for Physical Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-physical-sciences)
- #45 in [Best Social Mobility Colleges for Environmental Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-environmental-science)
- #46 in [Best Small Colleges](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-small-colleges)
- #47 in [Best Colleges for Physical Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-physical-sciences)
- #47 in [Best Colleges for Environmental Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-environmental-science)
- #47 in [Best Bachelor's in Physical Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-physical-sciences)
- #47 in [Best Bachelor's in Environmental Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-environmental-science)
- #47 in [Best Master's in Physical Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-physical-sciences)
- #47 in [Best Master's in Environmental Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-environmental-science)
- #49 in [Most Affordable Colleges for Physical Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-physical-sciences)
- #49 in [Most Affordable Colleges for Environmental Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-environmental-science)
- #49 in [Best ROI Colleges for English](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-roi-english)

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Opportunity Insights Patent & Innovation Data
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Pacific Lutheran University — School Profile." CollegeRanker.com. https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pacific-lutheran-university