Affordability at PLU

We know that college costs can be intimidating, but many students like you find that once financial aid is factored in, PLU is an affordable option – sometimes comparable to or even less expensive than state schools!

Simply, financial aid is money from university, as well as federal, state, and independent resources.  It includes scholarships, grants, loans, and work study, and can be used to help pay for tuition, room and meals, books, and other college-related costs.

Below, we break down financial aid at PLU for you. Click on an icon or scroll down for information on each section.

COSTS

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

LOANS

WORK STUDY

THE FAFSA & WASFA

APPLYING

HOW TO DO THE MATH

PLU'S VALUE

*For the incoming class of Fall 2024, PLU has a fixed tuition guarantee, which ensures that the cost of tuition is locked in from the first day of class until graduation day. You can find more information about the full cost of attendance here.

You probably already know that scholarships and grants don’t have to be repaid, but did you know that each year PLU awards more than $61 million in university-funded scholarships and grants?

Some of our scholarships include:

• Academic Scholarships – $8,000 to $32,000 per year – When you apply to PLU, you’re automatically considered for an academic scholarship
• Presidential Scholarships – $34,000 to full tuition per year – Our top academic and leadership scholarships require an application
• Artistic Achievement Awards – $1,000 to $7,500 per year – In the areas of Art & Design, Dance, Media, Music, and Theatre
• Visit Scholarship – $1,000 per year – Visit campus during your senior year, and you’ll automatically receive this scholarship

We also offer need-based scholarships and grants (as determined by the FAFSA or WASFA)

But that’s not all! We encourage you to look and apply for outside scholarships, too. Some of the scholarship search engines we recommend are BigFuture, Niche, Appily, CollegeScholarships.org, Scholarships.com, and theWashboard.org (for Washington state residents).

Loans are available to students (and parents) on a need and non-need basis. Many student loans are interest-free while you are in school. A low-interest repayment program begins six to nine months after you graduate.

Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the best way we can build a comprehensive financial aid package for you. The FAFSA is the method the federal government uses to determine how much you and your family can afford to contribute to your education, and it’s how PLU determines what need-based scholarships and grants, as well as loans and work study we can offer you. PLU’s FAFSA code is 003785.

If you’re not eligible to submit the FAFSA and you’re a Washington resident (i.e. if an undocumented student), you can fill out the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), which we can use instead to determine state and university need-based financial aid options.

Note: The 2025-26 FAFSA and WASFA are scheduled to open December 1, 2024.

Connect with your PLU Admission Counselor, who can walk you through each part your financial aid offer and answer any questions you and your family have.

You can also work through our Do the Math Worksheet, which helps you calculate your total out-of-pocket expenses for PLU and compare financial aid offers and expenses from other schools.

After considering all financial aid, there’s still the question of what makes PLU worth it? Your investment in college and in yourself is important, and as a Lute, you can expect:

Excellent academic programs and liberal arts education – recent research by the Association of American Colleges and Universities shows that employers value the skills and knowledge a liberal arts education provides as important for career success.

Professors who are mentors, teachers, and experts in their fields.

A global education, with hundreds of study abroad options. Over 50% of PLU students study away!

Valuable research, field, and internship experience.

Preparation for your next steps after graduation and connections with fellow alumni around the world.