A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at PLU are primarily White with a small Hispanic population. The school has medium racial diversity. 32% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
68%
|
| Black |
3%
|
| Hispanic |
8%
|
| Asian |
8%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
1%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
1%
|
| Two or more races |
7%
|
| International |
4%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 80% more female students than male students enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University with a gender ratio of 64% women to 36% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, PLU has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
36%
|
| Women |
64%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
942
|
| Women |
1,691
|
PLU serves a very low number of students outside of Washington, with 74 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
74%
|
| Out of State |
22%
|
| Foreign |
4%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
41% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 11.6% |
| Part time Undergrads | 2.1% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=236230 IPEDS survey data for Pacific Lutheran University.