ASU vs. PLNU

Deciding between Arizona State University and Point Loma Nazarene University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
Point Loma Nazarene University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • PLNU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • PLNU 4,757
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • PLNU #250
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • PLNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • PLNU $13,650
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • PLNU $39,696
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • PLNU $20,702
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • PLNU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • PLNU 3,265
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • PLNU 2,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • PLNU 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • PLNU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • PLNU 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • PLNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • PLNU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • PLNU
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • PLNU 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • PLNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • PLNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • PLNU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • PLNU 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • PLNU $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • PLNU 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • PLNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • PLNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • PLNU 33%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • PLNU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • PLNU High
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • PLNU No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • PLNU 59%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • PLNU 5%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • PLNU 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • PLNU 23%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • PLNU 7%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • PLNU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • PLNU 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • PLNU 26%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • PLNU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • PLNU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • PLNU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • PLNU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • PLNU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than PLNU based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 4,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); Point Loma Nazarene University is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1.

ASU vs. PLNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or PLNU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arizona State University than PLNU ($17,779 vs. $39,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 18.3% lower than at Arizona State University ($13,650 vs. $16,712).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is 278.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $34,027 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $12,223.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.6% higher at PLNU than at Arizona State University (about $13,111 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $33,139.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than at Arizona State University (94% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students is 70.1% larger than aid received by Arizona State University students ($20,702 vs. $12,172).

ASU vs. PLNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or PLNU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between PLNU and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Point Loma Nazarene University (1270) is 60 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming PLNU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; PLNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PLNU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PLNU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than PLNU (83.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 21.4% at PLNU.

ASU vs. PLNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and PLNU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Point Loma Nazarene University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of about $900 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona State University graduates have a $4,722 lower median loan debt than PLNU graduates ($20,278 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ASU graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PLNU graduates ($209 vs. $258).
  • More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.