The average acceptance rate at PLU over the past 10 years is 81.53%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 78.02%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly more competitive to gain admission to PLU in 2025. The acceptance rate at PLU is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 19.94%, and the 2025 yield is 14.12%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 39.89% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of PLU applicants increased by 20.61% (853 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 37.79% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 78.02%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that PLU is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 14.12%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at PLU. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, PLU received approximately 4,992 applications, admitted 3,895 students, and enrolled 550 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that PLU is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
PLU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at PLU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 81.53%, while the most recent rate stands at 78.02%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 78.02%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 78.52% and for women is 83.44%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at PLU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 75.55% | 74.11% | 76.43% |
| 2016-17 | 76.82% 1.27% |
73.16% -0.96% |
79.01% 2.58% |
| 2017-18 | 75.39% -1.42% |
71.33% -1.82% |
77.78% -1.23% |
| 2018-19 | 79.79% 4.39% |
77.63% 6.30% |
81.14% 3.36% |
| 2019-20 | 86.03% 6.24% |
83.32% 5.69% |
87.67% 6.53% |
| 2020-21 | 86.30% 0.27% |
84.33% 1.01% |
87.45% -0.22% |
| 2021-22 | 88.01% 1.71% |
85.04% 0.71% |
89.99% 2.54% |
| 2022-23 | 88.90% 0.89% |
86.75% 1.71% |
90.32% 0.32% |
| 2023-24 | 80.53% -8.38% |
75.76% -10.99% |
83.84% -6.48% |
| 2024-25 | 78.02% -2.50% |
73.81% -1.95% |
80.76% -3.07% |
| Average | 81.53% | 78.52% | 83.44% |
PLU has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 23.49% in 2015 to 14.12% in 2025, representing a 39.89% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 19.94%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at PLU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 39.89% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 23.49% | 24.29% | 23.01% |
| 2016-17 | 23.45% -0.05% |
23.68% -0.61% |
23.27% 0.25% |
| 2017-18 | 22.62% -0.82% |
22.55% -1.13% |
22.67% -0.60% |
| 2018-19 | 21.75% -0.88% |
19.71% -2.83% |
22.97% 0.31% |
| 2019-20 | 18.86% -2.89% |
18.70% -1.01% |
18.93% -4.05% |
| 2020-21 | 20.64% 1.78% |
19.85% 1.14% |
21.06% 2.13% |
| 2021-22 | 18.00% -2.65% |
15.95% -3.89% |
19.01% -2.05% |
| 2022-23 | 17.75% -0.25% |
17.09% 1.14% |
17.60% -1.41% |
| 2023-24 | 18.72% 0.98% |
17.62% 0.52% |
19.33% 1.73% |
| 2024-25 | 14.12% -4.60% |
13.22% -4.40% |
14.33% -5.00% |
| Average | 19.94% | 19.27% | 20.22% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 3,743, the average number of admitted is 3,040, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 599.
The number of PLU applicants increased by 20.61% (853 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 37.79% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Pacific Lutheran University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 3,623 | 2,737 | 643 |
| 2016-17 | 3,770 4.06% |
2,896 5.81% |
679 5.60% |
| 2017-18 | 3,629 -3.74% |
2,736 -5.52% |
619 -8.84% |
| 2018-19 | 3,740 3.06% |
2,984 9.06% |
649 4.85% |
| 2019-20 | 3,679 -1.63% |
3,165 6.07% |
597 -8.01% |
| 2020-21 | 3,306 -10.14% |
2,853 -9.86% |
589 -1.34% |
| 2021-22 | 3,220 -2.60% |
2,834 -0.67% |
510 -13.41% |
| 2022-23 | 3,334 3.54% |
2,964 4.59% |
526 3.14% |
| 2023-24 | 4,139 24.15% |
3,333 12.45% |
624 18.63% |
| 2024-25 | 4,992 20.61% |
3,895 16.86% |
550 -11.86% |
| Average | 3,743 | 3,040 | 599 |
The following table compares Pacific Lutheran University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Lutheran University | 80.53% | 78.02% | -3.12% |
| Gonzaga University | 81.69% | 75.96% | 7.54% |
| Seattle University | 76.92% | 76.05% | 1.14% |
| Whitworth University | 89.78% | 86.77% | 3.47% |
| Seattle Pacific University | 83.40% | 91.09% | -8.44% |
| City University of Seattle | - | - | - |
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