PLNU vs. Baylor

Deciding between Point Loma Nazarene University and Baylor 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.

Point Loma Nazarene University
Baylor University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • Setting
  • PLNU Large City
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • PLNU 4,757
  • Baylor 20,626
  • Type
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PLNU #250
  • Baylor #167
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Baylor Baptist
  • Status
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PLNU
  • Baylor

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Baylor $58,100
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Baylor $58,100
  • Room & Board
  • PLNU $13,650
  • Baylor $15,314
  • Average Net Price
  • PLNU $39,696
  • Baylor $47,001
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PLNU $20,702
  • Baylor $27,232
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PLNU 94%
  • Baylor 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PLNU 3,265
  • Baylor 46,946
  • Admitted
  • PLNU 2,732
  • Baylor 24,075
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • Enrolled
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PLNU 1270
  • Baylor 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • PLNU 28
  • Baylor 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • PLNU 3.65
  • Baylor 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PLNU A-
  • Baylor A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • PLNU Very High
  • Baylor Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • PLNU
  • Baylor Low
  • ACT Range
  • PLNU 25/32
  • Baylor 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PLNU Test optional
  • Baylor Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PLNU 13:1
  • Baylor 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PLNU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PLNU 72%
  • Baylor 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PLNU $53,500
  • Baylor $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PLNU 79%
  • Baylor 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PLNU $25,000
  • Baylor $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PLNU $258
  • Baylor $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PLNU 33%
  • Baylor 39%
  • % Women
  • PLNU 67%
  • Baylor 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PLNU High
  • Baylor Medium
  • HBCU
  • PLNU No
  • Baylor No
  • % White
  • PLNU 59%
  • Baylor 64%
  • % Asian
  • PLNU 5%
  • Baylor 6%
  • % Black
  • PLNU 2%
  • Baylor 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • PLNU 23%
  • Baylor 14%
  • % Native American
  • PLNU 1%
  • Baylor 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PLNU 1%
  • Baylor 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PLNU 7%
  • Baylor 5%
  • % International
  • PLNU 1%
  • Baylor 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PLNU 2%
  • Baylor 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PLNU 72%
  • Baylor 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PLNU 26%
  • Baylor 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Baylor University is larger than PLNU based on total student enrollment (20,626 students vs. 4,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Baylor University is in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1; Baylor University 15:1.

PLNU vs. Baylor Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Baylor? 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 Point Loma Nazarene University than Baylor ($39,696 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 10.9% lower than at Baylor University ($13,650 vs. $15,314).
  • Baylor University is 25.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than PLNU (about $11,850 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.6% higher at Baylor than at Point Loma Nazarene University (about $11,850 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Baylor University than at Point Loma Nazarene University (98% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Baylor University students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students ($27,232 vs. $20,702).

PLNU vs. Baylor Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or Baylor? 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 Baylor and PLNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Baylor University (1300) is 30 points higher than at PLNU (1270).
  • Incoming Baylor students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at PLNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365; Baylor University 1200/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32; Baylor University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PLNU - Test optional; Baylor - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PLNU Feb 15, 2027; Baylor Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at PLNU (3.65).
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than Baylor (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at PLNU vs. 14.2% at Baylor.

PLNU vs. Baylor Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PLNU and Baylor? 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).

  • The graduation rate at PLNU is the same as at Baylor University (72% vs. 72%).
  • Graduates from Baylor University earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than PLNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Baylor University and PLNU graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Baylor University and PLNU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
  • More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baylor students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 73%)

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.