This page contains an index of commonly asked questions. For your convenience it has been organized by topic.
General FAQ
Transfer Student FAQ
International Student FAQ
General FAQ
Applying to PLU
What are the minimum grade point and SAT/ACT requirements?
PLU takes a holistic approach to determining admission requirements. The application essay, course selection, grade trends and any resume or activities are carefully considered along with SAT/ACT scores and GPA. We have no minimum grade point or SAT/ACT score for admittance, however the average incoming freshmen GPA is calculated at 3.6, the average SAT score is 1100 and the average ACT score is 24.
Do you have to be a Lutheran to attend Pacific Lutheran University?
No. Nearly 30 percent of the PLU community is Lutheran, but many students come from other religious and non-religious backgrounds. Campus Ministry is open to students of not only Lutheran heritage, but other faiths as well.
Is chapel required?
Chapel is optional for everyone in the PLU community. PLU holds chapel three times a week from 10:30 a.m. until 11a.m. No classes are scheduled during this time and many offices on campus close to allow staff and faculty the opportunity to attend as well.
Are religion courses required?
To fulfill your general University requirements you must select and take two religion courses. They are academic courses that study the contemporary and historical aspects of religion. The courses offered range from religions of East and West Asia to the study of Lutheran heritage.
What if I don't know what I want to major in yet?
Rest assured you are not alone. Most students do not know right away what they are going to do for the rest of their lives when they come to PLU. You have time to explore different subject areas and find what fits you. The GUR courses (General University Requirements) are helpful in doing this and count toward your graduation. It is recommended that students declare their major by their junior year.
Academics
What is the Student:Faculty ratio?
The student to faculty ratio is 14:1. All classes are instructed by professors - TA's (teachers assistants), or graduate assistants do not teach classes.
What percentage of students graduate in four years?
Of those who graduate, 71percent graduate in four years and 97 percent graduate in five years. Depending on whether or not you follow the academic program designed by you with your advisor, you will have no problem graduating in four years. Unless your program of study is specifically designed as a 5-year program. Many students who change majors late in their careers take five years to complete their academic programs.
Does PLU have a study abroad program?
Absolutely! PLU has an extensive study abroad program that works with students' academic programs. Students can study abroad for a semester, a year, during January term (one month) or for a summer session. About 450 PLU students study abroad each year.
Campus Life
Do I have to live on campus my freshman year?
Every incoming freshman lives on campus until he/she is 20-years-old or has junior standing. A student can live off campus if living with his/her permanent guardian. Exceptions can be made in special circumstances such as medical conditions.
Is there a residence hall curfew?
There is no curfew for residence halls, however the halls do lock the doors at 10 p.m. for security. All residents have a key for the front entrance of their hall to come and go at their will.
Do students stay on campus over the weekends or do they generally go home?
PLU students generally stay on campus over the weekends and participate in a variety of weekend planned activities. Excursions to the ocean, skiing at Crystal Mountain or shopping at Seattle's Pike Place Market are common day trips.
Can I bring my car? Is parking a problem?
PLU encourages freshmen to leave their cars at home, however if you bring your car you will need to register it through Campus Safety and purchase a registration decal. For a decal price list, email campussafety@plu.edu. Parking is typically not a problem, however whether or not you find a place next door to your classroom or residence hall depends on luck and timing!
Does PLU have fraternities and sororities?
PLU does not have a Greek system however the residence halls act as a student's second home. Each hall develops a character of its own and students thrive and grow through the camaraderie of the residence hall communities.
Are students admitted into sporting events and concerts for free with a student I.D. card?
During regular season play, student I.D. cards allow free entrance to sporting events. During playoffs or special non-conference games, the PLU Athletic department will notify the student body of ticket prices. Concerts held on campus vary in free admittance. PLU's ticket office will notify the student body on ticket prices.
Are there open computer labs?
There is a student computer lab in the University Center that is open and free to PLU students. There are also free internet/Ethernet capabilities in every residence hall room for students who own their own computers.
Do students get free email?
Every PLU student is given an E-pass through PLU giving not only email access, but also on-line registration capabilities and library database access.
Financial Aid
For questions involving financial aid, visit the financial aid Web site.
Safety
Does the campus maintain an escort service?
PLU has an extensive escort service through Campus Safety that includes walking and vehicle escorts. They will escort to and from campus up to a four-block radius 24 hours/day.
Is there a 24-hour emergency phone operator on campus?
Yes. PLU not only has a 24-hour emergency phone operator through Campus Safety, but also has emergency phones located throughout the campus including parking lots and sporting fields.
Transfer Student FAQ
Applying to PLU
What are the deadlines for applying for admission?
There is no specific application deadline but:
- Priority is given to Fall Semester applications received by February 15
- Priority is given to Spring Semester applications received by December 15
Fall Semester admission carries permission to attend the preceding summer session. Spring Semester admission carries permission to attend the preceding J-Term.
What do Transfer Students need to do to be considered for admission to PLU?
Transfer Students applying to PLU with sophomore standing or higher (30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours or more) need to provide:
- Completed application
- Application fee (currently $35)
- Official transcripts from high school and for all college work
- One letter of recommendation
- Personal essay (refer to the application for topic options)
- Statement of Good Standing
Transfer Students applying to PLU with less than sophomore standing (less than 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours) also need to provide SAT or ACT test scores.
A GED (General Equivalency Diploma) is acceptable in place of a traditional high school diploma/transcript.
What is the minimum grade point average (GPA) a Transfer Student must have to be considered for admission to PLU?
Transfer Students must have a minimum of a 2.50 GPA from acceptable, transferable, academic college credits to be considered for admission to PLU.
Some PLU programs (such as Education, Nursing and Social Work) have separate, additional admissions procedures and are highly competitive programs. In short, while a 2.50 GPA might get Transfer Students into PLU, it does not guarantee admission or entry into every program or major on campus.
Who are Transfer Students? How do they differ from freshmen with previous college credit?
Transfer Students are those who come to PLU from other regionally accredited colleges or universities. High school students coming to PLU with Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Running Start or other college credits are not considered Transfer Students (they are considered freshmen with advanced standing).
How will Transfer Students know which of their college credits will transfer to PLU?
First, a transfer student needs to submit all official college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Then, transcript evaluators will consider his/her courses to determine which credits will be accepted and how they will fill requirements are PLU. They may be used for GURs, for Core I or Core II, for the College of Arts and Sciences options and/or as prerequisite work for their majors.
In general, students transferring to PLU from a Washington State Community College with an academic transferable Associate of Arts or Associate of Arts and Sciences degree will be considered as having satisfied all of Core I except for one diversity and one religion course. Transfer students with AA or AAS degrees will also have to satisfy mathematics and foreign language entry requirements and meet the requirements for their majors. Those students pursuing B.A., B.S., B.A.Rec., B.A.P.E., and B.S.P.E. degrees must also meet either Option I, II or III of the College of Arts and Sciences.
With some exceptions, all credits from community colleges transfer to PLU as lower division (100 or 200 level) courses regardless of how the course was numbered at the community college.
Only college level courses from accredited institutions of higher education may transfer to PLU. That excludes all courses numbered below the 100 level if not incorporated into an AA or AAS degree. Further information about transferability of credit and equivalency of courses can be obtained from the Transfer Equivalency Guide.
Do grades transfer to PLU?
No, only credit hours transfer to PLU. A prospective Transfer Student's GPA earned at any other accredited institution is relevant for determining eligibility for admission to PLU (and, by extension, for determining eligibility for those programs or majors on campus that have their own, additional, admissions procedures). Transfer students will not have a PLU GPA until they take a PLU class and earn a PLU grade for it.
Grades also are relevant in considering whether a prospective student will be given credit for particular courses, such as prerequisites, Core classes or GURs.
- Only academic courses with C- grades or better transfer to PLU, and only if those courses are considered individually and not a part of an associate degree. Courses receiving lower than a C- that have been accepted for completion of an associate's degree cannot be used towards satisfaction of any prerequisite or towards completion of any major requirements at PLU.
- For some programs (such as education and nursing) only grades of 2.00 or better will be accepted for certain courses. For social work, only grades of 2.75 or better will be accepted for certain courses. Questions related to the acceptability of a course or a grade should be directed to either the Transfer Coordinator, the Registrar's Office, the Academic Advising Center or, if known, to a specific faculty advisor.
- It is possible--when a Transfer Student earns an AA or AAS from a Washington State Community College--for non-academic courses to be accepted at PLU. That is because the AA or AAS is accepted as a package for purposes of satisfying Core I.
How many credits can Transfer Students transfer to PLU?
From a community (2 year) college: 64 semester credits or 96 quarter credits. From 4-year colleges: 96 semester credits or 144 quarter credits. From a combination of 2 and 4-year colleges: 96 semester credits or 144 quarter credits.
Transfer Students may take more than the maximum credits at a 2 or a 4 year school (or both combined) for purposes of satisfying entrance requirements, GURs, Cores, College of Arts and Sciences options or prerequisite work. However, those extra credits will not be considered towards the ultimate number of credits students need to graduate from PLU.
How are quarter credits converted into semester credits (or vice versa)?
Quarter credits are multiplied by 2 and divided by 3 to determine semester credits. Conversely, semester credits would be multiplied by 3 and divided by 2 to determine quarter credits.
For example:
96 quarter credits equal 64 semester credits. 96 X 2 = 192. 192/3 = 64. semester credits equal 96 quarter credits. 64 X 3 = 192. 192/2 = 96.
What else do Transfer Students need to know?
- Campus tours are available.
- The Red Carpet Club may be of assistance.
- The phone number for the Office of Admission is 253-535-7151.
- The phone number for the Office of the Registrar is 253-535-7131.
- The phone number for the Office of Financial Aid is 253-535-7161.
- The phone number for Brian Miller, Transfer Coordinator, is 253-535-7138.
- Brian Miller's e-mail address is millerbd@plu.edu
Academic Programs
Do all Transfer Students participate in The Freshman Experience?
Students who transfer to PLU with less than 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours are not required to participate in the freshman experience. While some Transfer Students may not be required to participate in the entire Freshman Experience (Writing 101, Critical Conversation and one J-Term course), all students will be required to satisfy at least the writing component of the General University Requirements (GURs).
How long will it take Transfer Students to graduate?
It all depends on the anticipated major as well as the number of credit hours those students bring to PLU and to what extent those hours satisfy GURs, Cores, etc.
In general: A student transferring in less than 32 semester hours would most likely require between 3-4 more years of study at PLU.
- Between 32-64 hours would most likely require between 2-3 years.
- Between 64-96 hours would most likely require between 1-2 years.
Since all students are required to complete their final 32 semester hours of study in residence at PLU, it would not be possible for a Transfer Student to complete a bachelor's degree in less than one year (two semesters) without advance permission and exceptional circumstances.
Are there any programs at PLU that can be completed at night and/or weekends?
As of now, only the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) offers a program that can be completed at night and/or weekends.
How do transfer students know what classes they need to take?
Transfer students should register for classes as soon as they receive their registration packet. This is done by contacting a faculty advisor in their major (or a faculty advisor who advises undecided students). A list of faculty advisors is included in their packet. Those advisors will be able to assist students with an appropriate selection of courses.
To assist them with registration, accepted transfer students will be provided with transcript evaluations that will detail what remaining GURs and Core courses they will need to take. They will be directed to speak with a faculty advisor in their major for help in determining what prerequisite courses and which courses in their major they need to take in order to qualify for their degree.
All new transfer students should be reminded of the importance of registering for courses as soon as they are eligible to do so. Eligibility consists of a letter of acceptance and the payment of a tuition deposit.
Financial Aid
What are the deadlines for applying for Financial Aid?
While there is no specific deadline for applying for admission, there are deadlines for applying for Financial Aid (including scholarships, grants and loans).
FAFSA forms should be submitted before January 31 preceding the Fall or the following Spring Semester that a Transfer Student wishes to attend.
Financial Aid is awarded on a yearly basis and delays in application could exclude students from timely consideration.
All students should be directed to follow up all requests for Financial Aid information with a counselor in the Office of Financial Aid.
What PLU scholarships are Transfer Students eligible for?
Students who transfer to PLU may be eligible for any/all of the following:
- The Provost's Merit Award—for Transfer Students with a 3.50 GPA or higher and with the equivalent of 30 or more semester hours (45+ quarter hours) of transferable college courses completed by the time of admission. Transfer Students must be admitted by March 1 to be eligible for this award of $3,000/year for undergraduate work. No application is necessary for this award and a 3.30 GPA is required for renewal.
- The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships—three of which are available for Transfer Students with a 3.60 GPA or higher and with the equivalent of 45 or more semester hours of transferable college courses completed by the time of admission. Transfer students must be admitted by March 1 to be eligible for these awards of $3000/year for two years and must provide proof of prior PTK membership. An application is needed (and should be submitted by March 1) for this award but it is not based on financial need. A 3.30 GPA is required for renewal.
Where an application for a PLU scholarship is needed, one will be provided in any eligible Transfer Student's admission packet. Please note that this applies for any scholarship provided by PLU and not any external scholarship, grant or award.
