Reviews

The programs are rigorous, but wonderfully small and provide many resources for help and additional learning. The homework and reading are heavy, and going the extra mile in your studies pays off.

The students and professors are very friendly. The campus has an overall warm feeling about it. If you ever need anything, whether it be someone to talk to or assistance for problems, there is always someone willing to help.

PLU is very expensive, but the quality of education you receive is outstanding. It is never weird or uncomfortable to ask the instructor for help, whether via email, after class, or during office hours. The library is open until 1 am weekdays and offers free tutoring programs if you need help.

Study, study, study!! Do it as much as you can! If you don't, you will have a hard time keeping up, especially during your first year. PLU is NOT a party school, though there are some energetic crowds on lower campus. The in crowd happens to be those who get good grades, and, for the price you pay to attend, you don't want to be flunking out.

This school is EXCELLENT for those who are responsible, serious about their future, are studious, athletic, religious (don't worry, you won't be attacked if you're not), and/or overall want to to obtain a higher quality of education.

When preparing for college, you only hear stories about how difficult the work is. Fortunately, at PLU, the professors have such a passion for what they teach that the subject matter is made fascinating. I knew learning biology was going to be rough, I just didn't know how fantastic the faculty was going to make the experience for me.

My classes are awesome, I love my job (office assistant for the Registrar), and it's super easy to get involved in clubs, sports, and other activities (Biology Club and student newspaper, for me).

The financial aid office went out of their way to help me find the money to attend. It was cheaper for me to attend PLU than a state school, and when you factor in the small class sizes, resources for students, and personal attention from professors-PLU is the easy choice.

Don't look at the starting price tag for colleges: look at the financial aid you get and *then* compare schools. Also, know what you want from a school. If you want a great economics program or sports team...you might want to look elsewhere. But if you want to actually participate in sports, or lead a student group focused on economics, you might be in the right place.

Natural Sciences
Those who want to study abroad (40% of PLU students study abroad, compared to the national average of 3%; PLU was also the first college to ever have students studying abroad on all seven continents simultaneously)
Music/Art

You learn so much. The professor are engaging and will take time outside of classes to help you, which was something the other, larger campus professors would not. There are such a variety of courses you can pick what interests you.

It is a beautiful campus with so many resources, such as health centers and tutoring. The people are friendly and it is a great place to be at school.

This school is extremely expensive, but you get so much out of the school that it is worth it. Plus the school financial aid office helps find ways to make the school more affordable.

-Do work on time.
-Search for scholarships early.
-Get to know your professors.

This school is great for pretty much all types of students. It is an open-minded campus and there is something for everyone.

This semester I am taking a literature course in a class with seven other students. I am also taking an anthropology course in a huge class of about fifty. The professor apologized for the outrageous amount of students taking the class and in hopes that we would never feel like just a number, vowed to try his best to learn all of our names and encouraged us to meet with him during office hours. I have a friend at CU-Boulder in a chemistry class of 600. If you are the kind of student who enjoys a seminar type atmosphere rather than lecture in the majority of your classes, I highly encourage you to look at PLU, especially if your are looking at a degree in the humanities or social sciences. I am only a freshman, but I can say that so far all of my professors have been extremely intelligent, professional and passionate experts in their field with the most fascinating and inspiring stories. Pacific Lutheran is a great place to get an education.

I absolutely love it here! I've learned a lot, met great people and made some seriously crazy memories and my experience is only just beginning.

When you ask around campus for the reasons students chose PLU, the great financial aid package is almost always listed in the top three. Yes, it is a private university so obviously it's going to be a bit spendy, especially when looking at the price tag on this site and others like it. However, I strongly encourage you to ignore that terrifying number, at least for now. After applying all the aid they gave me, it was cheaper to attend here than both the instate schools I applied to. Pair that with a small campus atmosphere, small class sizes and other private school perks and I'm practically stealing a great education.

PLU weights your grades when you apply, and many of the scholarship opportunities are based on that weighted GPA. Not too many universities do this but if you are a sophomore or a junior and you're pretty positive that Pacific Lutheran is the place for you, I'd especially recommend spending your remaining years earning that AP credit. A B in an AP class is equivalent to an A in a regular class, and each AP A gives you an extra boost to your GPA. With that extra cushion, you don't have to be afraid to test your mind a little.

If you love to feel involved, PLU is the place for you. There is always something going on, whether it's a school wide dance, a Harry Potter premiere party, or an Outdoor Rec ski trip to Snoqualmie. It is super easy to get involved in clubs, intramural sports and other organizations, and if you have an interest in music choral and instrumental ensembles are only an audition away.

Professors push you to learn by more by having you relate what you are learning in class to things either occurring in the world or by how it relates to you outside of the classroom. Many professors hold plenty of office hours and are happy to help you.

The people you will meet here are awesome. Everyone, students and staff, are extremely friendly so it won't take you long to find new friends if that's something you are worried about. However, the school is not located in an area with a lot of things to do, but Seattle is not far away. In addition, there are no big sporting events that draw a large crowd. Attendance to athletic events are probably comparable to what it is like in high school, but those that go are there to root on the Lutes.

While you do learn a lot and are able to get to know your professors as well as they can get to know you, the school is fairly expensive for what it offers. Therefore, if you do come here it is imperative that you do well as well as take advantage of office hours. While the campus is nice, it does not look like it is $40k a year school. Many buildings need renovating/remodeling, and to be fair the school has plans on doing so for buildings on campus.

Be prepared to work hard for every class. Attend every lecture, take good notes, and read and study as much as you need to in order to learn the material. If you have questions, don't hesitate to go to office hours. If you don't want to use office hours or don't really care, go to a big school instead. A small school like PLU is meant for you to be able to get to know your professors as well as ask them questions, which they encourage. Overall, you want to make sure that you do well in school as well as take advantage of office hours. Otherwise, you are just wasting your money.

Students that like the small atmosphere such as in high school, don't mind studying a lot and visiting office hours, and don't mind if they miss out on things you'd have at a big school (large sporting events, large classes, more variety of clubs and more research opportunities) then PLU would be right for you.

You learn as much as you are willing to learn here at PLU. There is ample opportunity to learn, not just in the classroom, but through clubs, organizations and even just events and lectures that are constantly taking place.

PLU has a very open and accepting community; because of its rather small size, you tend to get to know a decent portion of the school. I have found people that I will be friends with for the rest of my life, I have had multiple amazing opportunities to do what I love and be recognized within my department, and some of my fondest memories are from my three years I have been here.

Most, if not all of the professors at PLU are here because they really want to be here; they have a passion for teaching, for their subjects and their students and its very apparent in classes. It is quite an investment to come here, but PLU is extremely helpful in the amount of financial aid that it's students are given. If you want to come here, PLU will find a way to get you here, and if it is your goal that it will be worth your money, it will be.

Apply for as many scholarships as you can; it never hurt anyone to try. In addition to this, please come visit the campus and stay for a while with one of the current students. You will be welcome to sit in on any class and get a better idea of what life will be like on campus. Another tip is to get involved! There are so many things to be a part of on campus and it will really make your college experience. Lastly, invest in a sun lamp; it rains quite a bit here, so you may have to seek out alternative means of getting Vitamin D.

PLU is great for both extroverted and introverted people; because of the diverse community we have, you will no doubt find a niche. It is school that will foster learning for ambitious and curious students, and it is a school for students with a lot of passion and positivity.

Be prepared for the transition between high school and college because it is QUITE different. You don't just learn a lot about anthropology and economics, but you learn a lot about yourself too. PLU helps to develop you into a well rounded person. I can already see myself changing since I've been here for only 2 months.

Study as much as possible because getting accepted is the easiest part about going here. Staying at PLU is the hard part. Also, I have never met so many different kinds of people in my life. Everyone at PLU is so accepting, nice, and different in their own way. There is something about PLU that draws in different kinds of people.

Live on lower campus if you are looking for a nicer dorm. You pay the same to live in the dorm that is 100 years old so apply early to get the one you want. Upper campus is also located near everything (classrooms, University Center, Admin., etc.) and lower campus is more loud and social. Harstad is incredibly outdated compared to the other dorms, but they are huge so apply early if that is important to you. Also GO TO EVERY CLASS!

Apply for scholarships like crazy because it is expensive. Talk to students who go there and do an overnight visit if you can. Don't forget your map!

PLU is only great for students who are very serious about their school work. All kinds of people are accepted at PLU. There are support groups for EVERYTHING and they have many different clubs and activities to get involved. I wouldn't say PLU is for the partyer because parties here start at dark and end at midnight because people value their sleep. Leave your social lives at the door if you plan on going to PLU.

The classes here at Pacific Lutheran University are fantastic! The professors make it their business to help students who need help! Their dedication to one-on-one education helps students to learn at their own pace, increasing the student's ability to learn in the University environment.

I cannot imagine going to school anywhere else! The community of students and teachers makes every student feel important and valuable to the University on the whole. Student life is fantastic. There is plenty of fun activities to do on campus.

I am at Pacific Lutheran University on full tuition scholarship, but even if I was not, PLU being a private University gives several scholarships. Under few circumstances will a student attend on no scholarship. And again, even if they were paying full tuition, for the one-on-one time with professors, it is well worth the around $30,000 tuition.

If you want to attend PLU, it is important that you are an involved student in High School. A big thing here on campus is vocation, so if you know your vocation already, mention it in your essay, application, or interview!

PLU is great for students who are looking for a challenge, music students, students who are not afraid to ask for help, and self-motivated learners. It is also great for students who are interested in exploring the role of religion in their everyday life, however students with no religious affiliation can also thrive here.

plu is great for someone who is looking for a smaller campus and a close knit community. this is a great place for first in the family students and those who want a very homie feeling. overall, plu is a very friendly place.

make sure the school has your major. designing a major isn't a great option here, but there are many academic programs to choose from. also consider your financial aid package before making a final decision

so far, my major has not been super rigorous. i have been taking a lot of little basic classes, but i know many of the science and math based programs on campus are very difficult as soon as you enter.

you are very likely to get your first choice dorm, and there are waitlists for all the dorms that you would prefer if they are full. you are able to request a roommate, and the roommate questionnaire is very detailed, so even if you don't get to choose your roommate, i'm confident the plu staff will pick someone great for you.

there are many different choices and the menu changes daily. there are many options for people who need gluten free, dairy free, or vegan foods.

there are so many clubs and organizations to join, and everywhere on campus is always looking for part time employees.

for sure a great bang for the buck university. the financial aid packages are huge and the school is known for the quality of education. many students are on substantial amounts of financial aid.

omm (old maid mark), is pretty much just your usual general store on campus.
there is an annual toga party in the hinderlie dorm.
you are invited to the university president's house twice while you are a student; the first day of freshman orientation and graduation weekend.

there are so many different things to do. music, theatre, visual arts, dancing, athletics, hiking, lgbt support, major related clubs, and so much more!

there is no greek life.

pacific lutheran university is a very active and caring campus. you feel as though you can grow bonds with your professors and faculty members. this university cares for their students and gives them a lot of opportunity to better their college experience.

be prepared for the rigors classes, group work, and new students you will meet. the campus is very lively and makes everyone feel accepted. the professors and staff members are their to assist the students and they do their best to help.

your interests, major, and minor depends how well they will perform in classes. overall, pacific lutheran challenges their students and resorts to them having to work with other students and using the resources on campus. so long as students, like myself, utilize on campus resources and reach out to the helpful staff they will succeed.

there are plenty of residential halls on and off campus for everyone. each hall has various themes such as language and culture, gender equality, and music. a majority of the halls are coed, with the exception of one all female residence hall. pacific lutheran does its best to pair students by compatibilities and has residential assistants to help resolve conflict among roommates. also, you get a greater sense of community living on campus.

there are no fast food restaurants on campus, only a variety of healthy eateries. the main cafeteria has different stations: standard dinners, sandwiches, multi-culture, and pastas. there are other places on campus to buy food on the go with convenient locations. overall, the food is delicious, nutritious, and stays aware of those with allergies or special diets.

there is something for students on and off campus. there are always events on campus like clubs and activities. there are many groups of students within almost each department planning daily activities. the university is also around off campus restaurants, a hobby store, and barber shops.

once you start interacting with the faculty and your fellow students is when you will truly enjoy the university.

there is a tree on lower campus that is known as the gum tree because it is a tradition that everyone place their gum on the tree once on campus. kind of like leaving your mark.

great for students looking for a challenging yet caring environment.

plenty of clubs and weekly activities mainly ran by the students.

literally a phone call away and keeps everyone up to date on safety protocols.