Pacific Lutheran University

Admission Requirement for Transfer Students

At PLU, transfer students are not only welcome, they are considered an important part of the campus community. Transfer students are valued for the wealth of experience and diversity they bring to campus. In fact, each year more than 300 students transfer to PLU.

Test Scores and GPA

Transfer students are those who come to PLU from other regionally accredited colleges or universities. To be considered for admission to PLU, transfer students need to have at least a 2.50 gpa (on a 4.0 scale) with at least 30 semester hours of college level, academic coursework from an accredited institution. Transfer students who wish to apply for admission with less than 30 semester hours of transferable credit need to submit their SAT or ACT scores. Transfer students who have taken the GED need to submit those scores in place of high school transcripts.

Direct Transfer Agreement

Transfer students who have completed an appropriate associates degree from one of the 29 Washington state community colleges enter PLU with junior standing. They also are given credit for having satisfied all core and general university requirements except for four semester hours in religion, and four semester hours in diversity. Both must be taken at PLU. Transfer students who have not completed an associates degree or who seek to transfer from institutions other than Washington state community colleges will have their transcripts evaluated on a course-by-course basis to determine the number of transferable credits and transfer GPA.

For a list of the Direct Transfer Agreement Associate Degrees, click here.

Transfer Equivalency Guides

PLU accepts course work from other accredited institutions. Some of those courses transfer as general elective credit while others transfer in as an equivalent to a specific PLU course. Contact the Office of Admissions or the Office of the Registrar for information about transferring courses from four-year institutions. For information about transferring coursework from community colleges in the state of Washington refer to the Transfer Equivalency Guide.

Financial Aid

A PLU education not only offers transfer students an effective liberal arts curriculum that provides excellent professional preparation but it also provides an education that increases in value over time. PLU provides students with the tools to get a job and the ability to make a difference in whatever career they choose. To that end, PLU offers a competitive financial aid package based on a combination of need, merit and talent.

All students who apply to PLU are encouraged to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA should be completed in the month of January prior to the Fall semester for which a student seeks admission.

For more information about Financial Aid, click here.