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Spokane, WA · Tacoma, WA
| Gonzaga University | Pacific Lutheran University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $35,119/yr | $19,589/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $20,833/yr | $13,609/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $24,454 | $22,578 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $23,112/yr | $12,948/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $25,106/yr | $15,756/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $33,949/yr | $22,535/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $42,668/yr | $26,915/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $259/mo | $239/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $15,730/yr | $13,008/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $17,105/yr | $13,008/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0.1% |
| Books & supplies | $1,124/yr | $785/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,359/yr | $2,745/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $73,178/yr | $62,459/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $55,480/yr | $52,254/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $55,480/yr | $52,254/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 14% | 35% |
| Students taking federal loans | 36% | 44% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 82% | 78% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1190–1380 | 1040–1260 |
| SAT average | 1335 | 1168 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 27–31 | 22–28 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 25–33 · Math 24–30 | English 21–26 · Math 19–29 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 9,530 | 4,139 |
| Students accepted | 7,239 | 3,333 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,254 | 624 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 17% | 19% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 25% | 7% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 9% | 4% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 86% | 69% |
| Freshmen who come back | 93% | 82% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $78,892/yr | $66,990/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $53,874–$111,646 | $44,167–$88,955 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 88% | 74% |
| White students graduating | 88% | 74% |
| Black students graduating | 81% | 48% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 76% | 57% |
| Asian students graduating | 86% | 79% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $66,525/yr | $52,212/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 86% | 80% |
| Graduate on time | 74% | 41% |
| Pell students who graduate | 81% | 62% |
| First-gen students who finish | 81% | 68% |
| Low-income students who finish | 76% | 68% |
| Students who transfer out | 7.6% | 25% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $76,082/yr | $60,142/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 30% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% · Social Sciences 10% | Health Professions 27% · Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Visual & Performing Arts 9% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 30% of degrees | Health Professions — 27% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Social Sciences — 10% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Engineering — 8% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $119,250/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $104,932/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 27% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,198 | 2,401 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 12 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 2,189 | 351 |
| Average professor pay | $11,036/mo | $8,581/mo |
| Full-time professors | 59% | 70% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Median family income | $110,000 | $59,189 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Spokane, WA | Tacoma, WA |
| Region | Far West | Far West |
| Founded | 1887 | 1890 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5% | 4.5% |
| Men | 47% | 36% |
| Women | 53% | 64% |
| White students | 62% | 45% |
| Black students | 1.3% | 5.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 14% | 19% |
| Asian students | 6.6% | 10% |
| Two or more races | 8.2% | 11% |
| Other / not reported | 2.3% | 4.3% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 13% | 30% |
| Part-time students | 1.2% | 2% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.7% | 8.8% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $15,138/yr | $12,280/yr |
| Endowment | $476.1M | $131.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,990 | 1,382 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,600/yr | $5,920/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,480/yr | $7,086/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | No data reported | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Four-one-four plan |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic | Evangelical Lutheran Church |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | Yes |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I without football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 373 | 391 |
| Athletic scholarships | $7.5M | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $40.5M | $5.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $48.2M | $5.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $854,925 | $33,847 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.