Saint Edward's University vs Pacific Lutheran University

Saint Edward's University and Pacific Lutheran University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Pacific Lutheran University is more selective with a 80.5% acceptance rate compared to Saint Edward's University's 83.7%. Average SAT scores are 1135 and 1152 respectively.

Cost: Pacific Lutheran University offers a lower average net price at $21,370, which is $2,266 less than Saint Edward's University ($23,636). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn a median salary of $66,990 ten years after enrollment, which is $8,164 more than Saint Edward's University graduates ($58,826).

Graduation: Pacific Lutheran University leads with a 71.4% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 78.0% vs 79.4%.

Campus Size: Saint Edward's University is the larger campus with 2,729 total students, while Pacific Lutheran University has 2,350.

Bottom Line: Pacific Lutheran University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.