Oxy vs. PLNU

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

 Oxy PLNU
Location Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 1,942 4,319
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #72 #292
Religious Affiliation - Church of the Nazarene - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website oxy.edu pointloma.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Oxy PLNU
Tuition (In State) $59,970 $40,400
Tuition (Out of State) $59,970 $40,400
Room & Board $17,330 $11,800
Avg Net Price $44,853 $34,933
Avg Grant Aid $33,025 $19,422
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 100%

Admission

 Oxy PLNU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,305 3,149
Admitted 2,484 2,580
Acceptance Rate 39.4% 81.9%
Enrolled % 21.4% 26.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 31/34 22/30
SAT Range 1370/1510 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 10, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

 Oxy PLNU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 Oxy PLNU
Graduation Rate 83% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,600 $53,500
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,652 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $244 $258

Diversity

 Oxy PLNU
% Men 41% 34%
% Women 59% 66%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 59%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 16% 23%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 9% 7%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 Oxy PLNU
% In-State 34% 70%
% Out-of-State 61% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is larger than than Oxy based on total student enrollment (4,319 students vs. 1,942 students)

Oxy vs. PLNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oxy or PLNU?

  • Occidental College is 48.4% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($59,970.00 vs. $40,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.4% higher at Oxy than Point Loma Nazarene University ($59,970.00 vs. $40,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Point Loma Nazarene University than Oxy ($34,933 vs. $44,853)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 46.9% lower than costs at Occidental College ($11,800 vs. $17,330)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than Occidental College (100% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Occidental College students is 70% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($33,025 vs. $19,422)

Oxy vs. PLNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Occidental College (1304) is 156 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
  • Incoming Oxy students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at PLNU (26)
  • Accepted freshman PLNU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Oxy (3.63)
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Oxy (39.4%)

Oxy vs. PLNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Oxy 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 Oxy.

  • The graduation rate at Oxy is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (83% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Occidental College earn on average $3,100 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($56,600 vs. $53,500)
  • Occidental College students graduate with a $1,348 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($23,652 vs. $25,000)
  • Oxy graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($244 vs. $258)
  • More Oxy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 79%)

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