Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), a private institution founded in 1890 by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants in Parkland, Washington, embodies a rich heritage of education for service. With a student body of approximately 2,754, PLU is dedicated to its profound motto: "Educating for Lives of Thoughtful Inquiry, Service, Leadership, and Care." This commitment shapes an academic environment that fosters critical thinking and a deep sense of community responsibility.

PLU's journey began as the Pacific Lutheran Academy, chartered in 1890, aiming to support immigrants and develop community leaders, reflecting Scandinavian traditions of valuing education and service. After starting classes with 30 students in 1894, the institution evolved through several name changes, including Pacific Lutheran Academy and Business College (1898), and later Pacific Lutheran College (1918) following a merger with Columbia Lutheran College. It was eventually reorganized as a comprehensive university, reclaiming its original name, Pacific Lutheran University, in 1960, after offering its first four-year baccalaureate degrees in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Today, PLU offers a robust academic portfolio structured across four distinct colleges: the College of Health Professions; the College of Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Social Sciences; the College of Natural Sciences; and the College of Professional Studies. This structure provides a diverse range of programs designed to prepare students for impactful careers and lives. The university's approximately 238 full-time professors teach on a sprawling 156-acre woodland campus, creating an immersive and supportive learning environment.

Students at PLU are encouraged to engage deeply with their studies and their world. The university's ethos, guided by its Lutheran affiliation and unwavering motto, inspires graduates to lead with compassion and contribute meaningfully to society. Whether through rigorous academics or vibrant campus life, PLU cultivates individuals who are prepared to make a difference.