| Location | Tacoma, United States | Funding Type | Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| No of Students | 3100 | Establishment | University |
| Founded In | 1890 | Estimated Cost of Living | 10000 USD |
| Address | 12180 Park Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98447, United States |
Pacific Lutheran University was chartered by the State of Washington on December 11, 1890. In naming the university, the Norwegian pioneers who founded it recognized the role that a Lutheran educational institution on the Western frontier could play in the region. They wanted the institution to help immigrants adjust to their new land and find jobs, but they also wanted it to produce graduates who would serve church and community. Education—and educating for service—was a venerated part of the Scandinavian traditions from which these pioneers came.
Classes first began in 1894 with the student body consisting of 30 students. Tuition at the time cost $1 per week. Bjug Harstad was the school's first president. The entire university was housed in one building from 1894 to 1912. This building was formerly known as Old Main but has since been renamed Harstad Hall in honor of the school's founding president.
PLU is the small, private university where caring means more than kindness and consideration — it means a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice.
This commitment derives from our Lutheran heritage, and it defines our faculty and staff who work to create an environment where learners feel heard, and valued. It characterizes our student body, who aren’t afraid to do things differently to leave the world better than they found it.
Caring motivates us to question paradigms and draw new connections in pursuit of truth, constantly challenging ourselves and the world we love to be better for our neighbors — those down the street, and thousands of miles away. PLU is more than a campus full of individuals pursuing their dreams — we’re a community of seekers, trailblazers, creators, and reformers who know we can accomplish more together than apart.
The students we nurture and inspire become the minds and hearts driving that future. The PLU experience allows their ambition to blossom into purpose, their skills to sharpen into tools, and their caring to become a transformative force.
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