PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY F-8

Tacoma, WA 98447
Tel: (253)531-6900; 800-274-6758; Admissions: (253)535-7151; Fax: (253)536-5136; E-mail: admissions@plu.edu; Web Site: http://www.plu.edu/

Description: Independent, comprehensive, coed, affiliated with Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Awards bachelor's and master's degrees and post-master's certificates. Founded 1890. Setting: 126-acre suburban campus with easy access to Seattle. Endowment: $41.5 million. Research spending 2002-03: $288,656. Educational spending 2002-03: $8915 per student. Total enrollment: 3,462. Faculty: 304 (235 full-time, 69 part-time). Student-undergrad faculty ratio is 13:1. 1,973 applied, 80% were admitted. 39% from top 10% of their high school class, 70% from top quarter, 92% from top half. 5 National Merit Scholars, 28 valedictorians. Full-time: 2,922 students, 63% women, 37% men. Part-time: 263 students, 56% women, 44% men. Students come from 42 states and territories, 23 other countries, 26% from out-of-state, 1% Native American, 2% Hispanic, 2% black, 5% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 5% international, 13% 25 or older, 50% live on campus, 9% transferred in. Retention: 83% of 2003 full-time freshmen returned. Academic areas with the most degrees conferred: business/marketing; education; social sciences and history. Core. Calendar: 4-1-4. ESL program, services for LD students, advanced placement, accelerated degree program, self-designed majors, honors program, independent study, double major, summer session for credit, part-time degree program, adult/continuing education programs, co-op programs and internships, graduate courses open to undergrads. Study abroad program. ROTC: Army.

Entrance Requirements: Options: Peterson's Universal Application, Common Application, early admission, deferred admission, international baccalaureate accepted. Required: essay, high school transcript, minimum 2.5 high school GPA, 1 recommendation, SAT I or ACT. Required for some: interview. Entrance: moderately difficult. Application deadline: Rolling. Notification: continuous.

Costs Per Year: Application fee: $35. Comprehensive fee: $25,715 includes full-time tuition ($19,610) and college room and board ($6105). College room only: $3000. Full-time tuition varies according to course load. Room and board charges vary according to board plan and housing facility. Part-time tuition: $612 per semester hour. Part-time tuition varies according to course load.

Collegiate Environment: Orientation program. Drama-theater group, choral group, student-run newspaper, radio station. Social organizations: 45 open to all; Language and Culture hall. Most popular organizations: Rejoice, Circle K, Adult Students Club, Residence Hall Government, Inter-Varsity Fellowship. Major annual events: Homecoming, Convocation, All-Campus Picnics. Student services: health clinic, personal-psychological counseling, women's center. Campus security: 24-hour emergency response devices and patrols, student patrols, late night transport-escort service. 1,650 college housing spaces available; 1,600 were occupied in 2002-03. Freshmen guaranteed college housing. On-campus residence required through sophomore year. Options: coed, women-only housing available. Mortvedt Library with 367,628 books, 232,505 microform titles, 1,949 serials, 13,965 audiovisual materials, an OPAC, and a Web page. Operations spending 2002-03: $2.1 million. 200 computers available on campus for general student use. Computer purchase/lease plans available. A campuswide network can be accessed from student residence rooms and from off campus. Staffed computer lab on campus.

Community Environment: The third largest city in Washington, Tacoma is a shipping, industrial, and distribution center located in the Puget Sound region. The city has diversified industries including electrochemicals, food and beverage processing, clothing manufacturing, iron and steel works, and shipyards. The city has several parks, a public library system, museums, hospitals, and many civic and fraternal organizations serving the community. Transportation is provided by railroads, airlines, twelve bus lines, and major highways. Its residents enjoy easy access to ocean beaches, the many waterways of Puget Sound, and Mt. Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks. Nearby lakes and streams offer excellent fishing and numerous water sports.