CSU vs. PLNU

Deciding between California State University Chico 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.

California State University Chico
Point Loma Nazarene University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • PLNU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • PLNU 4,757
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • PLNU #250
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • PLNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • PLNU $13,650
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • PLNU $39,696
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • PLNU $20,702
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • PLNU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • PLNU 3,265
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • PLNU 2,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • PLNU 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • PLNU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • PLNU 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • PLNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • PLNU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • PLNU
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • PLNU 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • PLNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • PLNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • PLNU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • PLNU 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • PLNU $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • PLNU 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • PLNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • PLNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • PLNU 33%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • PLNU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • PLNU High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • PLNU No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • PLNU 59%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • PLNU 5%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • PLNU 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • PLNU 23%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • PLNU 7%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • PLNU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • PLNU 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • PLNU 26%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Chico is larger than PLNU based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 4,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); Point Loma Nazarene University is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1.

CSU vs. PLNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU 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 California State University Chico than PLNU ($14,630 vs. $39,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 17.3% lower than at California State University Chico ($13,650 vs. $16,500).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is 445.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $37,778 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 119.5% higher at PLNU than at California State University Chico (about $25,178 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than at California State University Chico (94% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students is 79.9% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($20,702 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. PLNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU 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 CSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Point Loma Nazarene University (1270) is 200 points higher than at CSU (1070).
  • Incoming PLNU students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 21 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; PLNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; PLNU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PLNU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at CSU (3.37).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than PLNU (83.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 21.4% at PLNU.

CSU vs. PLNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU 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 California State University Chico's (59%).
  • Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than PLNU graduates ($17,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PLNU graduates ($175 vs. $258).
  • More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 70%)

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.