Pacific Lutheran University

In 2022, tuition for full-time Pacific Lutheran University students was $49,472 a year.

Tuition was the same price in 2023 compare to the year before. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If these numbers feel scary, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students owe a lot less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college more manageable until you're done with college.

Pacific Lutheran University meets 87.9% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Pacific Lutheran University is around $40,445 a year.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $22,592 of debt.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Washington as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for students who are residents of that state.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to check your state's guidelines for how to qualify for in-state residency. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Washington colleges

Is Pacific Lutheran University's Tuition Different for International Students?

Tuition at Pacific Lutheran University is the same for all students.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or Pacific Lutheran University-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Pacific Lutheran University:

•On-campus jobs •Pacific Lutheran University-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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Pacific Lutheran University Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Pacific Lutheran University.

House and Food Costs at Pacific Lutheran University

Housing and campus dining at Pacific Lutheran University is $12,446 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the Pacific Lutheran University's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Board costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Pacific Lutheran University

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools offer resources so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these costs.

The Cost of Transportation at Pacific Lutheran University

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or will you need to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in a city is sometimes expensive, but there may be more buses, trains and affordable flights to actually get to school. Pacific Lutheran Universityis located in a suburb in Washington, near Seattle.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, don’t forget to consider personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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The Full Cost of Attending Pacific Lutheran University

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending Pacific Lutheran University.

Total Cost of Pacific Lutheran University

What will the cost of attending Pacific Lutheran University be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$49,472
Room and Board	$12,446
Board Only	$7,086
Other expenses	$1,960

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$64,678
Off-Campus	$59,318

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Pacific Lutheran University’s tuition and fees change based on: •Academic program for both full and part-time students •Course load for both full and part-time students

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Financial Aid at Pacific Lutheran University

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The majority of Pacific Lutheran University undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 1,702 of the 2,301 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Pacific Lutheran University meets 87.9% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $40,445 a year. Around 60.3% of Pacific Lutheran University undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Pacific Lutheran University graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $22,592 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$22,337
Private Loans	$42,093

Most Common Loans for Pacific Lutheran University Students
Federal Loans	60.3%
Private loans	11.81%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Pacific Lutheran University financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Pacific Lutheran University

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Pacific Lutheran University awarded 1,335 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $22.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $55.01 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Pacific Lutheran University Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Pacific Lutheran University students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Pacific Lutheran University was $40,445 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Pacific Lutheran University seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$24,233
Off-Campus	$18,873

What will attending Pacific Lutheran University really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Pacific Lutheran University's net cost calculator on their website.

Pacific Lutheran University Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Pacific Lutheran University offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Pacific Lutheran University Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Pacific Lutheran University has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Pacific Lutheran University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Pacific Lutheran University's endowment was $130.1 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Pacific Lutheran University spends about $8,942 a year.

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Learn More About Pacific Lutheran University

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Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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