University Accreditation

Accreditation Standing

PLU completed its most recent accreditation cycle in Spring 2025 with a reaffirmation of accreditation granted. The formal notification letter is linked below.

The comprehensive visit resulted in five commendations and three recommendations:

Commendations 

The Commission commends Pacific Lutheran University for: 

1. For successfully instilling the ideals and values of its mission and Lutheran Higher Education, which are embraced throughout PLU by the administration, faculty, staff, and students. 
2. For establishing Automatic Admission Partnerships with local school districts and implementing the 253 PLU Bound Scholarship, which have expanded undergraduate admission pathways and significantly increased the recruitment of first-generation, Pell-eligible, and students of color. 
3. For its development and implementation of a comprehensive institutional strategic planning process which has fostered a spirit of innovation, transformation, and change. 
4. For its intentional focus on improving retention rates through institution-wide efforts and strategic initiatives, including a thoughtfully structured and effective set of new student orientation and first-year experience programs for undergraduate students. 
5. Its development of robust dashboards that are used extensively by leadership teams to guide strategic planning and support data-informed decision-making. 

Recommendations Substantially in Compliance but in Need of Improvement

• • Recommendation 1: Spring 2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness 
    • Provide staff with appropriate opportunities and support for professional growth and development. (2020 Standard(s) 2.F.2) 
  • Recommendation 2: Spring 2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness 
    • Assess its Core General Education Curriculum. (2020 Standard(s) 1.C.6) 
  • Recommendation 3: Spring 2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness
    • Monitor its internal environments to identify current and emerging patterns, trends, and expectations. (2020 Standard(s) 1.B.4) 

Future Evaluations

In Fall 2025, PLU begins a new seven year accreditation cycle. The important dates in that cycle are:

Spring 2027: Ad Hoc Report with Visit 

• • Recommendation 1: Spring 2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness 
  • Recommendation 3: Spring 2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness 

Spring 2028: Mid-Cycle Review 

• • Recommendation 2: Spring 2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness 

Spring 2031: Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review 

Spring 2032: Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness