PLU Guaranteed Graduate Admission
PLU’s Guaranteed Graduate Admission program currently offers guaranteed admission and an expedited admission process for PLU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Social Work (MSW), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs to recent PLU graduates and current PLU students who meet each program’s eligibility qualifications.
Starting Summer 2026, the Guaranteed Graduate Admission program will expand to offer guaranteed admission for PLU’s Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) program.
Guaranteed Admission
In collaboration with the PLU Graduate Admission Office, the MBA, MSW, DNP, and ELMSN programs have developed these guaranteed admission initiatives to offer eligible Lutes an opportunity to continue their education and earn a graduate degree at their alma mater.
Expedited Admission Process
No application, application fee, resume, or recommendation is required. If you’re a current PLU student (or recent alum) who has been offered guaranteed admission, you’ll just need to complete the short form for your offered program (and you may be eligible for more than one!).
Benefits of continuing your graduate education at PLU:
- Automatic $5,000 PLU Alumni Scholarship as a PLU grad
- Combine theory with vital hands-on experience to further your experience and reach your professional goals
- Excellent faculty and cohort-style classes
- Additional global experience opportunities
- Continue being a part of the intentional PLU community in which you are challenged to investigate, teach, play, create, serve and care for others to leave the world better than we found it
PLU Graduate Programs
PLU offers six master’s and two doctorate programs, open to all PLU graduates of any major, designed to combine theory with hands-on experience and help you reach your next personal and professional goals.
FAQs
What is Guaranteed Graduate Admission?
Once a Lute, always a Lute! PLU undergraduate alumni (students pursuing their bachelor’s degree) have always made up a significant percentage of our graduate program cohorts. We have initiated this guaranteed graduate admission program as a way to remove barriers and make it easier for you to apply for and pursue your graduate education at PLU if it aligns with your future goals. You are able to be selected for guaranteed admission based on your credit standing at PLU, anticipated graduation date, and undergraduate GPA.
How do I get offered Guaranteed Graduate Admission?
Based on your credit standing, and graduation date, you’ll be offered Guaranteed Graduate Admission if you meet the following criteria for the below programs:
- MBA: Earn your Bachelors degree (in any area), and meet the 3.0 GPA requirement.
- MSW: Earn you Bachelors degree in Social Work, meet the 3.0 GPA requirement, obtain a score of 80% or higher on the Professional Behavior Assessment (this takes place during seminar), and earn an A- or better in the spring practicum/seminar.
- ELMSN: Earn your Bachelors degree in Biology, Chemistry, Kinesiology, or Psychology (BS), meet the 3.0 GPA requirement, and complete all prerequisites prior to the start of the ELMSN program.
- DNP: Earn a Bachelors degree in Nursing (through either the ABSN or BSN programs), meet the 3.0 GPA requirement, and obtain your RN license or plan to take the NCLEX prior to the start of the DNP program.
You’re welcome to complete an application to any of these programs be further reviewed for your entrance to the program if you do not meet the requirements.
When will I be notified if I am eligible?
- MBA: For the Spring start term, you’ll be offered Guaranteed Graduate Admission in November. For the Fall start term, you’ll receive your offer in February.
- MSW: For a Summer start term, you’ll be offered Guaranteed Graduate Admission in November.
- ELMSN: For a Summer start term, you’ll be offered Guaranteed Graduate Admission in November.
- DNP: For the Summer start term, you’ll be offered Guaranteed Graduate Admission in November.
Do I need to submit my transcripts to be offered GGA?
You do not! Because you are a PLU student, we already have access to your transcript.
What does the process for applying to a graduate program with guaranteed admission look like?
If offered Gauranteed Graduate Admission, you’ll be sent an application form. By completing the form, you are simply starting (and expediting!) the graduate admission process. It allows us to send you more information to see if the program you were invited to is the right fit for you – academically and financially.
Once we receive your form, we’ll provide you with important next steps, financial aid information, and opportunities to learn more about the program you’ve selected and– how it enhances your undergraduate degree and furthers your academic and career goals.
How do I receive the PLU Alumni Scholarship?
The $5,000 PLU Alumni Scholarship is automatic for every PLU alum and applies to all PLU graduate programs. You’ll receive this one time scholarship in your first semester as a graduate student. There is nothing extra you need to do to receive it once you are enrolled as a PLU graduate student.
Do my undergraduate scholarships carryover to a graduate program?
No, your undergraduate scholarships are for undergraduate studies only. You will receive the $5,000 PLU Alumni Scholarship and have the option to apply for other external scholarships.
Are there any scholarships I can apply for? What about other financial aid for graduate programs?
Funding and financial aid for graduate programs is different from undergraduate. However, in addition to the automatic $5,000 PLU Alumni Scholarship that you’ll be awarded in your first semester of your graduate studies, there are other external graduate scholarships you can apply for.
Many graduate students finance their program through a combination of personal funds, educational loans, employer support (if eligible), military benefits (if eligible) and scholarships. We strongly recommend you complete the FAFSA to be eligible for federal education loans.
Can I apply to a PLU graduate program that’s not a part of Guaranteed Graduate Admission?
Yes, you can! You’ll fill out a standard application for the other PLU grad programs, but as an alumni you won’t need to submit your transcripts or pay the application fee! You’ll still receive the alumni scholarship too!
Can I be offered Guaranteed Graduate Admission to more than one program?
Yes! Depending on your major, you could receive multiple GGA offers. It’s up to you to decide which program is best for you!
Please note that while GPA alone can help your to earn Guaranteed Admission to the MBA program, the MSW, ELMSN, and DNP programs have additional requirements you must meet to be eligible for Guaranteed Graduate Admission to those programs.
I have other questions not answered by this FAQ list - who do I contact?
You can connect with our Graduate Admission team at 253-535-8570 or gradadmission@plu.edu with any additional questions!
You can also schedule a phone appointment, and a Graduate Admission Counselor will call you!