Cal State Long Beach vs. PLNU

Should I go to California State University Long Beach or Point Loma Nazarene University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Long Beach or PLNU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Long Beach vs. Point Loma Nazarene University comparison
California State University Long Beach Point Loma Nazarene University College 3 College 4
California State University Long Beach Point Loma Nazarene University
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Overview

Cal State Long Beach PLNU
Location Long Beach, CA San Diego, CA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 38,973 4,319
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #507 #292
Religious Affiliation - Church of the Nazarene - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csulb.edu pointloma.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Long Beach PLNU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $40,400
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $40,400
Room & Board $14,932 $11,800
Avg Net Price $9,346 $34,933
Avg Grant Aid $9,478 $19,422
% Receiving Grant Aid 75% 100%

Admission

Cal State Long Beach PLNU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 74,718 3,149
Admitted 29,851 2,580
Acceptance Rate 40% 81.9%
Enrolled % 18% 26.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 22/30
SAT Range 1020/1240 1170/1350
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Cal State Long Beach PLNU
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Cal State Long Beach PLNU
Graduation Rate 54% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,100 $53,500
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $155 $258

Diversity

Cal State Long Beach PLNU
% Men 41% 34%
% Women 59% 66%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 19% 59%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 39% 23%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Cal State Long Beach PLNU
% In-State 97% 70%
% Out-of-State 2% 29%

Campus

Cal State Long Beach PLNU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Long Beach is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (38,973 students vs. 4,319 students)

Cal State Long Beach vs. PLNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or PLNU?

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is 603.6% more expensive to attend than Cal State Long Beach for in-state tuition ($40,400.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 129.3% higher at PLNU than California State University Long Beach ($40,400.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Long Beach than PLNU ($9,346 vs. $34,933)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 26.5% lower than costs at California State University Long Beach ($11,800 vs. $14,932)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than California State University Long Beach (100% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students is 104.9% larger than aid received California State University Long Beach ($19,422 vs. $9,478)

Cal State Long Beach vs. PLNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach or PLNU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLNU or Cal State Long Beach .

  • The average SAT score at Point Loma Nazarene University (1148) is 92 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1056)
  • Incoming PLNU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Cal State Long Beach (23)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at PLNU (3.65)
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Cal State Long Beach (40%)

Cal State Long Beach vs. PLNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Long Beach or PLNU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PLNU and Cal State Long Beach.

  • The graduation rate at PLNU is higher than California State University Long Beach (72% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn on average $2,400 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $51,100)
  • California State University Long Beach students graduate with a $10,000 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($15,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Cal State Long Beach graduates are paying $103 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($155 vs. $258)
  • More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/