Gordon College vs Pacific Lutheran University

Gordon College and Pacific Lutheran University, both rooted in strong academic traditions and vibrant campus communities, offer distinct educational experiences. Gordon College, a private Christian liberal arts college in Wenham, Massachusetts, boasts a lower acceptance rate (49%) compared to Pacific Lutheran University's (73%), a private Lutheran university in Tacoma, Washington. While Gordon College excels in majors like Biblical and Theological Studies, Pacific Lutheran University shines in fields such as Nursing and Business. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences in student body demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors, helping you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.
Gordon College logo

Gordon College

Pacific Lutheran University logo

Pacific Lutheran University

Overview

Location Wenham, Massachusetts Tacoma, Washington
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 79.0% 79.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Interdenominational Evangelical

Admission

Acceptance rate 77.4% 88.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
$55
SAT range 1153 - 1370 1150 - 1376
ACT range 24 - 30 22 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 24.0% 11.0%
Students submitting ACT score 8.0% 6.0%
Total number of applicants 1,462 3,220
Total number of admissions given out 1,132 2,846
Admitted students who chose to enroll 317 510
Yield rate 28.0% 17.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $40,910 $63,563
Average net price $25,917 $23,568
Tuition $25,250 $46,816
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,480

Meal plan: $4,220
Room/dormitory: $5,330

Meal plan: $6,481
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $26,364
99.0%
Average amount $34,413
Students receiving federal student loan 68.0%
Average amount $7,144
45.0%
Average amount $5,091
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $14,683
6.0%
Average amount $15,835

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,368
Men 39.5% Women 60.5%
2,373
Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
Graduate students 436
Men 26.4% Women 73.6%
333
Men 27.6% Women 72.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 8.4% 1.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,390 1,369
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Mississippi Connecticut New Hampshire New York New Jersey N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.1% 69.4%
Dropout rate 27.7% 30.5%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,771
  • Year 2: $46,556
  • Year 3: $51,827
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,003
  • Year 2: $27,681
  • Year 3: $42,021
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,123
  • Year 2: $35,954
  • Year 3: $41,684
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,092
  • Year 2: $31,038
  • Year 3: $36,135
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,785
  • Year 2: $33,459
  • Year 3: $33,409
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,365
  • Year 2: $30,228
  • Year 3: $32,774
Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,486
  • Year 2: $30,988
  • Year 3: $32,663
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,082
  • Year 2: $21,964
  • Year 3: $27,417
Religion/Religious Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,219
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,587
  • Year 2: $27,439
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,084
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $86,573
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,051
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $79,254
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,659
  • Year 2: $68,875
  • Year 3: $71,075
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,461
  • Year 2: $54,053
  • Year 3: $64,188
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,494
  • Year 2: $45,082
  • Year 3: $52,405
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,050
  • Year 2: $46,556
  • Year 3: $51,610
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $49,858
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,589
  • Year 2: $34,420
  • Year 3: $47,617
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,575
  • Year 2: $35,420
  • Year 3: $46,377
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $36,674
  • Year 3: $45,113

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