Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CA · Private · Large city · PLNU

Private institution in San Diego, CA · 3,132 undergraduates · 82% acceptance rate · $63,998 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 16%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 18%Median earnings, 6 years after entry
Top 21%Median earnings, 10 years after entry
Top 21%Full-time retention

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $50,1681,974th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $43,5501,728th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $43,5501,712th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $56,6641,645th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $22,990995th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $63,998404th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $54,811355th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 73.8%324th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 86.1%386th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 81.8%970th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 1278233rd highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 26270th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 3,132673rd largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 13.0:1993rd smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 22.7%1,573rd highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 4 mi (SAN)

On 3 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

EANov 15
RDFeb 15

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $55
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 59 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$82,641	$85,206
Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$63,501	$63,749
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$57,645	$66,821
Engineering PhysicsEngineering	bachelors	$46,478	—
MarketingBusiness	bachelors	$41,193	$46,087
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$41,087	—
JournalismCommunications	bachelors	$39,009	$41,937
Business/Corporate CommunicationsBusiness	bachelors	$36,848	$40,402
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$32,925	—
Communication and Media StudiesCommunications	bachelors	$31,848	$32,925
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$30,771	—
Design and Applied ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$28,309	—

Campus facts

Religious affiliation: Church of the Nazarenesource
Founded in 1902source
Athletic nickname: "Sea Lions"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
School colors: #FFD700source
Mascot: Splash the Sea Lionsource
Formerly known as "Pacific Bible College (1902–1906), Deets Pacific Bible College (1906–1910), Nazarene University (1910–1917), Pasadena University (1917–1949), Pasadena College (1949–1973), Point Loma College: An Institution of the Church of the Nazarene (1973–1983), Point Loma Nazarene College" (1983–1998)source
Athletic conference: PacWestsource
Notable alum: Destin Daniel Crettonsource

Athletics — 7 sports

NCAA Division II without football · NCAA Division II

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $3,403,258 (M $1,384,374 · W $2,018,884)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.