First-Year Admission

PLU welcomes applications from students who exhibit capacities for success at the university level. Admission to PLU is competitive. We look for students who:

• Demonstrate success in a challenging college preparatory curriculum
• Desire academic and personal challenges
• Communicate clearly
• Serve in their community, church or school
• Will share unique or special talents

Each application is reviewed based on grade point average, class rank, transcript patterns, standardized test scores, personal essay, and an academic recommendation.

Applications for admission are evaluated without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disabling conditions, financial resources or any other status protected by law.

Standardized Tests

Freshman applicants will need to take either the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT). To be eligible for all PLU scholarships, you will want to take the test by November of your senior year. For more information about these standardized tests, see your high school college counselor. To have your scores sent directly to PLU from a testing agency, please use the following codes: SAT: 4597, ACT: 4470.

Required Prep Courses

• Mathematics - Two years of college prep math with an average grade of C or higher
• Foreign Language - Two years of the same language with an average grade of C or higher. If you are deficient in the math or foreign language entrance requirements, but are admissible by all other criteria, you may still be offered admission. You will be required to complete the deficiencies during your first year at PLU.
• English - Four years
• Social Studies - Two years
• Laboratory Science - Two years
• Visual or Performing Arts - One year
• Electives - Three years (selected from the areas listed above, as well as courses in keyboarding, computer science, speech and debate)
• English Preparation - For international students who have met the academic requirements for the university, but whose English needs improving. Learn more »

Advanced Credit Policies

If you have participated in Washington State Running Start, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, you may be eligible for college credit. PLU accepts Running Start credits as college credits, and awards up to 30 semester hours for AP and IB exam results. Advanced credit policies »

Freshman Admission

PLU builds its pool of admitted students around five admission decision dates; three dates in the fall and two dates in the spring. Students who complete their application materials prior to the 15th of October, November, December and January can expect an admission decision and notification of merit scholarships prior to the next decision date. Applications received after February 15 will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

School of Nursing Conditional Admission Program

Students interested in Nursing are encouraged to apply for the School of Nursing's Conditional Admission Program. Through this program, a select number of incoming full time, first-year students will be guaranteed admission (after completion of several academic requirements) to the School of Nursing's BSN program starting their second year. Learn More »

Weighted GPA

When reviewing applications of prospective freshmen, PLU computes an “Admissions GPA” for the applicant. The Admissions GPA weights classes that are identified on the high school transcript as International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), Honors, or Accelerated. This weighted GPA will be used throughout the admissions, financial aid, and scholarship process. If the applicant’s high school produces their own weighted GPA, the admissions office will use the better of the two. The maximum GPA for PLU admissions and financial aid purposes is 4.00.