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Tacoma, WA · Lacey, WA
| Pacific Lutheran University | Saint Martin's University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $19,589/yr | $28,119/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,609/yr | $22,810/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,578 | $22,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,948/yr | $24,499/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,756/yr | $24,997/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,535/yr | $30,232/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $26,915/yr | $33,354/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $239/mo | $239/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,008/yr | $15,152/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,008/yr | $15,640/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0.1% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $785/yr | $1,240/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,745/yr | $4,422/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $62,459/yr | $62,449/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $52,254/yr | $45,510/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $52,254/yr | $45,510/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 35% | 42% |
| Students taking federal loans | 44% | 69% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 78% | 90% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1040–1260 | 1025–1230 |
| SAT average | 1168 | 1093 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 22–28 | 16–20 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 21–26 · Math 19–29 | English 16–21 · Math 14–20 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 4,139 | 3,473 |
| Students accepted | 3,333 | 2,637 |
| Students who enrolled | 624 | 263 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 19% | 10% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 7% | 12% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 4% | 4% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 69% | 52% |
| Freshmen who come back | 82% | 65% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $66,990/yr | $62,092/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $44,167–$88,955 | $38,810–$85,700 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 74% | 66% |
| White students graduating | 74% | 51% |
| Black students graduating | 48% | 36% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 57% | 59% |
| Asian students graduating | 79% | 68% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $52,212/yr | $57,998/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 80% | 78% |
| Graduate on time | 41% | 43% |
| Pell students who graduate | 62% | 38% |
| First-gen students who finish | 68% | 66% |
| Low-income students who finish | 68% | 69% |
| Students who transfer out | 25% | 30% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $60,142/yr | $60,492/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 27% · Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Visual & Performing Arts 9% | Computer & Information Sciences 31% · Health Professions 15% · Business, Management & Marketing 9% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 27% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 31% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees | Health Professions — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 9% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees | Education — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees | Engineering — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $104,932/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $94,947/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 15% | 43% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,401 | 1,158 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 11 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 351 | 201 |
| Average professor pay | $8,581/mo | $7,413/mo |
| Full-time professors | 70% | 51% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Median family income | $59,189 | $41,889 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | City (small) |
| Location | Tacoma, WA | Lacey, WA |
| Region | Far West | Far West |
| Founded | 1890 | 1895 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.5% | 2% |
| Men | 36% | 44% |
| Women | 64% | 56% |
| White students | 45% | 37% |
| Black students | 5.4% | 6.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 19% | 24% |
| Asian students | 10% | 11% |
| Two or more races | 11% | 13% |
| Other / not reported | 4.3% | 5.8% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 30% | 34% |
| Part-time students | 2% | 5.5% |
| Students age 25+ | 8.8% | 20% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $12,280/yr | $9,107/yr |
| Endowment | $131.8M | $46.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,382 | 630 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,920/yr | $6,520/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,086/yr | $7,920/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 9 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Roman Catholic |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division II without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 11 |
| Student athletes | 391 | 222 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $2.4M |
| Athletics budget | $5.3M | $5.6M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.8M | $5.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $33,847 | $17,042 |
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, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.