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Admission Criteria

PLU welcomes applications from students who exhibit capacities for success at the university level. Admission to PLU is competitive. We look for students who:

• Demonstrate success in a challenging college preparatory curriculum
• Desire academic and personal challenges
• Communicate clearly
• Exhibit leadership and service in their community, church, or school
• Will share unique or special talents

Each application is reviewed based on grade point average, class rank, transcript patterns, standardized test scores, personal essays, and an academic recommendation.

Applications for admission are evaluated without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disabling conditions, financial resources, or any other status protected by law.

Test-Optional Admission

Because standardized tests do not always accurately reflect academic ability or the potential to be academically successful, and because we practice a holistic review of admission applications, SAT or ACT test scores are no longer a required piece of the application for admission.

International students are strongly encouraged to submit test scores if available. SAT or ACT can be used in place of English Proficiency Exams (see the checklist above). If you decide to apply test optional, you will need to submit a different proof of English proficiency.

Exceptions to test optional:

• Homeschooled students are required to submit official ACT or SAT scores, unless they have earned 30 college-level transferable semester credits or 45 college-level transferable quarter credits.
• Students from schools with written evaluations rather than grades are required to submit their ACT or SAT scores.
• Students planning on applying for Nursing Conditional Admission are strongly encouraged to send in their scores.
• Students interested in teaching (including Education majors) may want to send in their scores, which can be used for the basic skills admission requirement by the state to get into a teacher program.

If you feel your SAT or ACT scores are an accurate reflection of your academic ability, you are welcome to submit them as part of your application for admission. To have your scores sent directly to PLU from a testing agency, please use the following codes: SAT: 4597, ACT: 4470. You may also choose to self-report your test scores on your application and we will use those scores in the decision-making process.

Required Preparatory Courses

• Mathematics – Two years of college preparatory math with an average grade of C or higher*
• Foreign Language – Two years of the same language with an average grade of C or higher*
• English – Four years
• Social Studies – Two years
• Laboratory Science – Two years
• Electives – Three years (selected from the areas listed above, as well as courses in computer science, speech and debate, visual arts, etc.)

*If you are deficient in the math or foreign language entrance requirements, but are admissible by all other criteria, you may still be offered admission. You will be required to complete the deficiencies during your first year at PLU.