Campus & Student Life at Pacific Lutheran University

Home to about 2,544 undergraduates in 2020, PLU is a small, private university located in Tacoma, Washington. A safe, suburban environment can offer many of the amenities of city living without the constant hum. Should you tire of the campus however, PLU offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by PLU can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our PLU Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Pacific Lutheran University is Affiliated With the Evangelical Lutheran Church Faith.

Some, but not all, schools with a religious affiliation may require a statement of faith or religious studies component. Contact the school to see what their requirements are. If an affinity with the Evangelical Lutheran Church faith interests you, check out our ranking of The Best Evangelical Lutheran Church Colleges and Universities.

PLU Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 10.0% of the student population at PLU. For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit PLU Disability Services.

PLU for the Military

While not a "service academy", PLU does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit PLU Veteran Services . For more information, check out our PLU for Veterans Guide.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Pacific Lutheran University

PLU offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Pacific Lutheran University

PLU has a comparatively small, student body. There were 2,544 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 2,486 (97.7%). Part-time attendance was 58 (2.3%).

Pacific Lutheran University is Ranked #654 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, PLU receives top marks for overall diversity. We rank PLU #654 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at PLU by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the PLU Diversity Guide.

Pacific Lutheran University Competes in the NCAA

PLU has a total of 462 student athletes, 297 men and 165 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Pacific Lutheran University Athletics