Claremont McKenna vs. PLNU

Should I go to Claremont McKenna College or Point Loma Nazarene University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Claremont McKenna 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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Claremont McKenna College vs. Point Loma Nazarene University comparison
Claremont McKenna College Point Loma Nazarene University College 3 College 4
Claremont McKenna College Point Loma Nazarene University
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Overview

Claremont McKenna PLNU
Location Claremont, CA San Diego, CA
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 1,389 4,319
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #18 #292
Religious Affiliation - Church of the Nazarene - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website claremontmckenna.edu pointloma.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Claremont McKenna PLNU
Tuition (In State) $60,480 $40,400
Tuition (Out of State) $60,480 $40,400
Room & Board $18,712 $11,800
Avg Net Price $28,701 $34,933
Avg Grant Aid $50,020 $19,422
% Receiving Grant Aid 49% 100%

Admission

Claremont McKenna PLNU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,709 3,149
Admitted 591 2,580
Acceptance Rate 10.4% 81.9%
Enrolled % 54.5% 26.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 33/35 22/30
SAT Range 1440/1550 1170/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Claremont McKenna PLNU
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (44%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (7%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Claremont McKenna PLNU
Graduation Rate 91% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $97,800 $53,500
Making Student Loan Payments - 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,967 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $154 $258

Diversity

Claremont McKenna PLNU
% Men 49% 34%
% Women 51% 66%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 59%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 14% 23%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 17% 1%
% Unknown Race 6% 2%

Students

Claremont McKenna PLNU
% In-State 42% 70%
% Out-of-State 41% 29%

Campus

Claremont McKenna PLNU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is larger than than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (4,319 students vs. 1,389 students)

Claremont McKenna vs. PLNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Claremont McKenna or PLNU?

  • Claremont McKenna College is 49.7% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($60,480.00 vs. $40,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.7% higher at Claremont McKenna than Point Loma Nazarene University ($60,480.00 vs. $40,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Claremont McKenna College than PLNU ($28,701 vs. $34,933)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 58.6% lower than costs at Claremont McKenna College ($11,800 vs. $18,712)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than Claremont McKenna College (100% vs. 49%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 157.5% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($50,020 vs. $19,422)

Claremont McKenna vs. PLNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Claremont McKenna College (1408) is 260 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
  • Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at PLNU (26)
  • Accepted freshman Claremont McKenna students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at PLNU (3.65)
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Claremont McKenna (10.4%)

Claremont McKenna vs. PLNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Claremont McKenna 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 Claremont McKenna.

  • The graduation rate at Claremont McKenna is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (91% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn on average $44,300 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($97,800 vs. $53,500)
  • Claremont McKenna College students graduate with a $10,033 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($14,967 vs. $25,000)
  • Claremont McKenna graduates are paying $104 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($154 vs. $258)

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