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Is Pacific Lutheran University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Pacific Lutheran, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Pacific Lutheran lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $22,578 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $66,990, but the margin is not huge. For context, Pacific Lutheran's net price is about 4% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$23,841
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $1,004 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $4,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$19,589
Median earnings 10 years out
$66,990
Median debt at graduation
$22,578
Graduation rate
70%
At Pacific Lutheran, a typical graduate carries about $22,578 in student debt and earns roughly $66,990 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $257 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Pacific Lutheran is a private nonprofit four year school in Tacoma, WA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Northwest
Kirkland, WA
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $22,288
Private nonprofit 4-year
Walla Walla
College Place, WA
Worth-It Score: 62/100
Median net price: $23,329
Private nonprofit 4-year
Seattle Pacific
Seattle, WA
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $24,488
Private nonprofit 4-year
Whitworth
Spokane, WA
Worth-It Score: 59/100
Median net price: $26,534
Private nonprofit 4-year
Saint Martin's
Lacey, WA
Worth-It Score: 53/100
Median net price: $28,119
Common questions about Pacific Lutheran
The median net price at Pacific Lutheran is $19,589 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Washington? See the most affordable private colleges in Washington →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →