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Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CAprivate nonprofitwww.pointloma.edu/
Acceptance
84%
SAT 25–75
1175–1365
Avg net price
$38,729
Earnings (10 yr)
$63,998
Graduation rate
77%
Admit rate has ranged 74%–84% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is a private Christian liberal arts university perched on the ocean bluffs of San Diego, offering a tight-knit community where spirituality meets rigorous academics. With an 84% acceptance rate and strong programs in nursing, business, and biology, PLNU attracts students who want a faith-integrated education with Pacific views. Its 74% graduation rate and median alumni salary of $49,409 reflect a campus culture that balances beachside ministry trips with career-ready outcomes.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
- High school transcript
- Grade point average
- Letters of recommendation
- College-prep program
Considered (not required)
- Test scores (SAT/ACT)
- TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
- Undergrad enrollment
- 3,188
- In-state tuition
- $46,250
- Out-of-state tuition
- $46,250
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
- On-Campus Housing
- 54%
- Student-Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Median Alumni Salary (1yr)
- $49,409
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $63,998
- Value (earnings ÷ net price)
- 1.7×
- Median debt at graduation
- $22,990
- Graduation rate
- 77%
- First-year retention
- 86%
- Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
- 79%
- Pell (lower-income) share
- 49%
- First-generation share
- 29%
- Endowment / student
- $27,336
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$85,206
- Finance and Financial Management Services$66,821
- Accounting and Related Services$63,749
- Marketing$46,087
- Journalism$41,937
- Business/Corporate Communications
Campus & location
Campus safety
- On-campus violent crimes (2024)
- 0
- Per 1,000 students
- 0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
- Pleasant days / yr
- 265
- Summer high
- 75°F
- Winter low
- 47°F
- Annual rain
- 14.4"
- Natural-hazard risk
- Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility
Research output
- Institutional h-index
- 87
- Scholarly works
- 1,452
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
- Mobility rate
- 1.4%
- Bottom → top quintile
- 43%
- From bottom quintile
- 3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
- What is the acceptance rate at Point Loma Nazarene University?
- Point Loma Nazarene University's acceptance rate is approximately 84% (San Diego, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
- What SAT score do you need for Point Loma Nazarene University?
- Admitted students at Point Loma Nazarene University typically score 1175–1365 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
- How much does Point Loma Nazarene University cost?
- At Point Loma Nazarene University, the average net price (after aid) is about $38,729 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
- How many undergraduates attend Point Loma Nazarene University?
- Point Loma Nazarene University enrolls approximately 3,188 undergraduate students.
- Where is Point Loma Nazarene University located?
- Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, CA.
Admissions
PLNU's admissions process is moderately selective, with an 84% acceptance rate (3,264 applicants, 2,731 accepted in recent data). Admitted students typically have an average SAT score of 1240 (1180–1365 range) or ACT score of 26 (25–32 range), and a weighted GPA above 3.8. The university emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., considering both academic metrics and alignment with its Nazarene Christian mission. Regular applications are due by April 15, though early admission is available for high-achieving students who haven’t yet completed high school.
Academics
PLNU blends liberal arts with professional programs, offering 50+ majors across disciplines like nursing, business, and biology. Popular programs include:
- Registered Nursing (top major)
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See colleges similar to Point Loma Nazarene University →Sources
- Institutional Research - Point Loma Nazarene University
- Point Loma Nazarene University - Institution Data Profile
- [PDF] Common Data Set 2022-2023
- Point Loma Nazarene University Overview - CollegeData
- How colleges consider demonstrated interest in admissions
- Common Data Set | Office of Institutional Research - Brown University
- Point Loma Nazarene University Admissions - BigFuture
- Point Loma Nazarene University SAT Scores and GPA - PrepScholar
- Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) - AcceptanceRate.com
- Point Loma Nazarene University - Tuition and Acceptance Rate
