Pacific Lutheran University vs Alaska Pacific University

Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and Alaska Pacific University (APU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique educational experiences. PLU, located in the vibrant city of Tacoma, Washington, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, providing a diverse and inclusive campus environment. APU, nestled in the breathtaking natural beauty of Anchorage, Alaska, offers a more intimate learning community with a lower student-to-faculty ratio, fostering personalized attention and mentorship. While both universities excel in various academic disciplines, PLU is renowned for its strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences, while APU shines in fields such as environmental science and sustainability. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.

	Alaska Pacific University	Pacific Lutheran University
Overview
Location	Anchorage, Alaska	Tacoma, Washington
Campus setting	City: Large	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	4-1-4
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	68.0%	79.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation	Methodism	Evangelical

Admission
Acceptance rate	96.0%	88.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $25 Graduate: $25	$55
SAT range	N/A	1150 - 1376
ACT range	N/A	22 - 28
Students submitting SAT score		11.0%
Students submitting ACT score		6.0%
Total number of applicants	504	3,220
Total number of admissions given out	484	2,846
Admitted students who chose to enroll	40	510
Yield rate	8.3%	17.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$43,870	$63,563
Average net price	$19,830	$23,568
Tuition	$20,350	$46,816
Room & board	$8,300	Room/dormitory: $5,330 Meal plan: $6,481
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $16,403	99.0% Average amount $34,413
Students receiving federal student loan	37.0% Average amount $6,186	45.0% Average amount $5,091
Students taking out private loans	0.0% Average amount $0	6.0% Average amount $15,835

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	376 Men 21.8% Women 78.2%	2,373 Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
Graduate students	178 Men 29.2% Women 70.8%	333 Men 27.6% Women 72.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	0.4%	1.3%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	96	1,369
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Psychology Health Professions Multidisciplinary Studies Liberal Arts	Health Professions Business Education Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio	8:1	11:1
Institutional accreditation	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome
Graduation rate	22.2%	69.4%
Dropout rate	30.6%	30.5%
Transferred out	44.4%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $26,353 Year 3: N/A Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $55,766 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $84,369 Year 2: $81,333 Year 3: N/A	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $75,084 Year 2: $92,632 Year 3: $86,573 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,051 Year 2: $69,338 Year 3: $79,254 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,659 Year 2: $68,875 Year 3: $71,075 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $61,461 Year 2: $54,053 Year 3: $64,188 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $51,494 Year 2: $45,082 Year 3: $52,405 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $41,050 Year 2: $46,556 Year 3: $51,610 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $36,848 Year 3: $49,858 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $33,589 Year 2: $34,420 Year 3: $47,617 Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,575 Year 2: $35,420 Year 3: $46,377 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $36,674 Year 3: $45,113

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Pacific Lutheran University vs Alaska Pacific University

Alaska Pacific University

Pacific Lutheran University

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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