Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University campus is in Tacoma – 36 miles south of Seattle – in the State of Washington.

City of Tacoma

In PLU’s Parkland neighborhood, you’ll hardly have to step foot off campus to eat at some of Tacoma’s best restaurants, including great Italian food at Marzano, or grab a quick bite at Farrelli's Wood Fired Gourmet Pizza or Pita Pit. Also on Garfield Street, walk with your friends to visit the university’s bookstore, Garfield Book Company at PLU or get a jolt at one of several neighborhood coffee sellers before you hit the books.

PLU is also just minutes away from downtown Tacoma and the world famous Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum and the Washington State History Museum. The campus is located just 15 minutes from downtown Tacoma – an area that rests beautifully on the serene Commencement Bay waterfront of Puget Sound. There you will find bars, restaurants, nightclubs and museums. 

Tacoma was recently voted one of America's 'most livable cities' and also topped the list of 'most wired cities', making it ideal for student life. It is home to the famous Museum of Glass, an Art Museum and the Washington State History Museum.

Tacoma has been known as 'The City of Destiny' for more than 100 years – a deep-water port, it was the location of the western terminus of the transcontinental railroad. Settlers came to seek their fortune. Today, inhabitants of Tacoma enjoy the benefits of a cultural, diverse city with access to the natural wonders of Mount Rainier National Park and the Olympic Peninsula.

City of Seattle

The short drive to Seattle means you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy big-city entertainment like the Experience Music Project or major league ballgames at beautiful Safeco Field. And given that the Seattle-Tacoma area is situated on the vibrant and culturally diverse Pacific Rim, there is no shortage of opportunities – from tracking down Asian cuisine and cultural delights to starting an internship at a global trading company. It’s all here for you.

Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region and attracts visitors from all around the world. You may choose to spend much of your leisure time here. 

Famous for the original Starbucks and its many other coffee house, Pike Place Market, and sparkling blue waters of Lake Union and Elliott Bay, it makes for great after-class excursions. It is also well-known as the home of Microsoft and its main export - technology. The city center has a lively cultural life, hosting a variety of performing and recording arts and provides dozens of galleries and museums as well as unique shopping and dining experiences.

With a mild climate year round, it's not surprising that the Seattle region has been named among the 'most livable' in the US.

Seattle is situated on the Puget Sound, approximately 100 miles from the US/Canada border. It is surrounded by mountains and water, making for easy escape into the countryside. It is nicknamed ‘The Emerald City’ after all the trees that surround it.

The Region

Whether its summer water skiing in Puget Sound or winter snow skiing at Crystal Mountain, the legendary Pacific Northwest offers great recreational opportunities throughout the year. The two most notable natural features in the area are Mt Rainier and Puget Sound. The distinctive realms of the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges and forests of Douglas Fir complete one of the most naturally tranquil environments in the United States.

Students can also join organized PLU activities to the many outdoor attractions in the region and beyond, including Mt. Rainier, Vancouver B.S., and the San Juan Islands.

Next Steps:

• Apply today
• Contact our Student Enrollment Advisors for more information