Pacific Lutheran University offers 3100 students a combination of 44 academically rigorous liberal arts and professional programs. Nationally recognized for its study abroad programs and commitment to service, PLU lives its mission of educating for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership and care.
Pacific Lutheran University purposefully integrates the liberal arts, professional studies, and civic engagement. Students take part in student-faculty research, internships, lab work, field studies and numerous other hands-on learning experiences, and work closely with professors who are experts in their fields and passionate teachers.
97% of PLU students qualify for financial aid, and the average financial aid offer is $34,227. Academic scholarships range from $15,000-$25,000 per year. PLU has been named one of “300 universities worth the investment” by Forbes and one of the top colleges in the country for awarding creative arts scholarships ($1,000-$10,000 per year) by LendEDU.
Located in Tacoma, Washington, PLU is the closest university to Mt. Rainier National Park and a short drive from Seattle, with multiple opportunities for internships at world-class Puget Sound-area organizations, and many ways to enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
PLU is a national leader in global education – it was the first American university to have study away classes on all seven continents, and nearly 50% of students study abroad at some point in their PLU education.
Noted for its commitment to diversity, justice and sustainability, PLU engages a diversity of race, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation, as well as diversity of world-view, religion, national origin, age, learning style and even political philosophy. PLU seeks sustainability as environmental stewardship but also as a commitment to ecological, social and economic justice.
Graduates are prepared for success – 90% of recent graduates were either employed or accepted into graduate school within six months of graduating. PLU continues the tradition of Lutheran higher education through its commitment to the advancement of knowledge, thoughtful inquiry and questions, and the preparation of citizens in service to the world. PLU seeks to educate students for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership and care, for other people, for their communities, and for the Earth.