Pacific Lutheran sits in Parkland, just south of Tacoma, on a wooded campus with Mount Rainier on the horizon on clear days. It's a small private university founded in 1890 by Lutheran settlers and still linked to the church. Nursing, business and the natural sciences are strong, and a January term makes short study away courses a normal part of the degree. Seattle is about an hour north.
Tacoma, Washington, United States
Official website: plu.edu
Private Lutheran university
1890
Parkland, south Tacoma
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
$50,000 – $55,000
International students, undergraduate tuition before aid
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on plu.edu before you apply.
BS Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Feb
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Biology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Feb
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
A January term used for short study away courses.
Nursing with clinical placements in Tacoma hospitals.
A small campus with Mount Rainier in view.
Nursing graduates work in hospitals around Tacoma and Seattle.
Business and computer science graduates join firms across the Puget Sound region.
Many go on to graduate school; F-1 graduates can apply for OPT.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
Main intake
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Limited programmes
The campus is in Parkland, a suburban area south of downtown Tacoma, with the cafés of Garfield Street at its edge. Most students live on campus in their first years.
Tacoma has a working port, the Museum of Glass and cheaper rent than Seattle. Sounder trains and express buses run to Seattle, and Sea-Tac Airport is about 30 minutes away by car.
Form I-20 issued by Pacific Lutheran University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
PLU reviews undergraduate applications on a rolling basis, and early applicants get the best scholarship consideration. International students should apply by spring for fall entry to allow time for the I-20 and visa interview.
Most students start in the fall, in September. Spring entry in February is possible for many undergraduate majors.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Pacific Lutheran University first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Nursing, business, computer science and biology are popular with undergraduates, and the MBA is the main graduate option. Undergraduate entry is based on secondary school grades plus IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79. Nursing admission is competitive.
Yes. PLU gives merit scholarships to most international undergraduates, which lowers the listed tuition noticeably. Awards are decided at admission.
