by our College Data Analytics TeamOn this page you'll get a better understanding of what college costs you'll actually have to pay out of pocket, which can vary widely based on where you live and your income level.
Few students will pay the full advertised sticker price of PLU. The Net Price is an estimate of how much the average student actually pays to attend college for one year.
To calculate this number we take the total cost of attendance of Pacific Lutheran University including tuition, fees, room, board and other expenses. Then we subtract out the average amount of aid awarded per student.
The average student will pay a total net price of $34,012.
$34,012 is the average net price across all students. Your price may differ depending on your family income level.
The average net price of $34,012 is based on estimates from 2020. This number represents the overall average net price of all undergraduate students, including those that did not receive any financial aid.
Grant and scholarship aid was given to 99% of freshman students.
The average amount awarded was $30,044.
When subtracted from the total cost to attend PLU and live on campus, the average annual net price for freshmen receiving aid was $31,116.
The following table explores the likelihood that you too will receive some common price-reducing aid, based on percentages.
| Net Price by Aid Group | On Campus | Off Campus | At Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| 649 Total Freshmen | |||
| 4 (1%) did not receive any grants or scholarships. | $61,160 | $61,160 | $50,010 |
| 645 (99%) split a total of $19,378,380 for an average of $30,044 each | $31,116 | $31,116 | $19,966 |
The above refers to grants and scholarships from the college and/or the state, federal or local governments. Other sources of grant aid such as private scholarships are not included.
Use the College Cost Estimator to get an idea of how much money you may have to spend out of pocket to attend PLU, and how many loans you may have to take on.
Select the factors that are true for you.
Estimated Cost for You This is what the college will likely charge you in this scenario. | $61,160 |
Aid (Grants and Scholarships) Money given to you to offset the cost of college. | $30,044 |
Estimated Net Price This is what you can expect to pay (or pay back). | $31,116 |
Loans Money you borrow to cover the cost of college. You will have to repay this eventually. | $7,513 |
Out of Pocket Money you need to come up with each year to attend college. | $23,603 |
Research the average amount of loan debt students take on from this school.
Family income can have a large impact on the amount of aid you receive, and thus, your net price.
The table below shows the average net price freshmen paid based on income level. Note that if the school offers in-state tuition, the lower in-state tuition has been used in the calculation.
| Net Price by Family Income Level | Net Price |
|---|---|
| 0-30k | $17,344 |
| 30k-48k | $17,998 |
| 48k-75k | $20,369 |
| 75k-110k | $27,598 |
| 110k + | $28,021 |
The above table only includes the calculated net price for students that received some form of Title IV aid.
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 establishes general rules that apply to the student financial assistance programs covering grants and loans.
Over a period of six years, the average net price paid by all freshmen at Pacific Lutheran University has remained about the same, shifting by an average of only -0.1% per year.
An overall best case average net price of $31,116 puts Pacific Lutheran University well above the national average of $20,398.
Many schools offer more aid to first year students (freshmen) than they do to other undergraduates. Is that the case with this school?
