Pacific Lutheran University was established in 1890, is a private comprehensive university, is considered a high-quality university in the western U.S. state of Washington. It had been rated one of the 15 best universities in the western region by the US News & World Report. PLU not only emphasis on academic knowledge, but also on internship and work experience. It provides professional courses in business, education, nursing and social work, has more than 3,300 undergraduate students, including 150 international students from 24 other countries, about 5% of the total student population. PLU enrolls more than 1,500 freshmen each year, admission rate is 76%, not so difficult to enter. Besides the traditional education, PLU also provides cooperative education, double degrees, English language learning, independent learning, etc., especially the 3-2 programmes held with Columbia University and Washington University in St. Louis.
Number of Students
Registered Students: 3500, from 24 other countries, 150 international students, accounting for 5%.
Teacher-student ratio: 1:15, about 260 staff, full-time staff accounted for 92%, 85% of teachers receive the highest degree in their fields.
Geography and Transportation
PLU is located in Tacoma, Washington, an hour’s drive from the U.S. West Coast big city – Seattle. Tacoma is a major international port city, sea and air traffic centre, located in south Pierce County in western Washington state, with population of 200,000, has become Washington’s second largest city, and is the headquarters of Intel Corporation and the Atlantic Ocean Northwest Timber Company. The city has many cultural and entertainment venues, including: cinemas, museums, theaters, stadiums, parks, beaches, etc., but also tourist base to Mount Rainier and the Olympia Mountains. Its temperate climate and harmonious atmosphere make the local college has become a living and learning place.
Faculties
Computer Science programme has been recognised by the Computer Accredit Commission, it offers professional laboratory for computer technology special disciplines, including earth science, chemistry and physics, computer engineering, mathematics.
Mathematics graduates are mostly work in the actuary, economics, operations research, statistics, systems analysis and other industries; every student in the 4th year of Physics will have their own instructor to complete their pilot project independently. The graduates mainly work in private industries or government’s large laboratories in the northwest, including Boeing, Intel, Microsoft; Division of Humanities: has language resource centre and has the second largest children’s literature collection the northwest. It has 4 departments: English, language and literature, philosophy and religion.
PLU’s Services and Facilities
Campus area of 126 acres, 42 buildings, 12 student housing buildings, an apartment-style housing, a language and culture housing centre, six acres of wildlife refuge, computer labs, science centres, a music building (concert hall with 534 seats), care centres, a 1,200-seat auditorium, two gymnasiums, student centre, multi-functional hall, fitness center, a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts with lighting, soccer, track and field sport ground, beach volleyball court and a swimming pool.
Costs
- Undergraduate: tuition US$ 23,450, living expenses US$ 6,140;
- Financial assistance: the 1st year US$ 7,000-11,000, the 2nd to 4th year US$ 4,000-8,000;
- ESL: 22-week tuition US$ 4,800; 33-week tuituion US$ 6,900
- Insurance about US$ 550 per year.
Scholarship amount is determined by the students’ Grade Point Average (GPA). Excellent international students can apply the President and Director scholarship since 2007, and will be dispensed from tuition and other college’s expenses.
Entry Requirements
Undergraduate: TOEFL (550); IELTS (6.5); GPA (3.0)
Graduate: IELTS: (6.5); TOEFL: （minimum iBT 88, 230 Computer）