PLNU vs. Bentley

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

 PLNU Bentley
Location San Diego, CA Waltham, MA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 4,494 5,264
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #108
Religious Affiliation Church of the Nazarene - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pointloma.edu bentley.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 PLNU Bentley
Tuition (In State) $42,600 $58,150
Tuition (Out of State) $42,600 $58,150
Room & Board $12,850 $19,200
Avg Net Price $36,370 $43,858
Avg Grant Aid $20,277 $33,293
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 86%

Admission

 PLNU Bentley
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,065 10,482
Admitted 2,506 5,077
Acceptance Rate 81.8% 48.4%
Enrolled % 26.2% 22.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/30 29/32
SAT Range 1140/1410 1250/1410
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 Feb 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 PLNU Bentley
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • Mathematics (1%)
  • General Studies (1%)

Outcomes

 PLNU Bentley
Graduation Rate 72% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,500 $87,200
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $274

Diversity

 PLNU Bentley
% Men 9% 9%
% Women 21% 9%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 62%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 23% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 2%
% International 1% 14%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 PLNU Bentley
% In-State 70% 38%
% Out-of-State 29% 46%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bentley University is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (5,264 students vs. 4,494 students)

PLNU vs. Bentley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Bentley?

  • Bentley University is 36.5% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($58,150.00 vs. $42,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.5% higher at Bentley than Point Loma Nazarene University ($58,150.00 vs. $42,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Point Loma Nazarene University than Bentley ($36,370 vs. $43,858)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 49.4% lower than costs at Bentley University ($12,850 vs. $19,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than Bentley University (93% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bentley University students is 64.2% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($33,293 vs. $20,277)

PLNU vs. Bentley Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bentley University (1244) is 96 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
  • Incoming Bentley students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at PLNU (26)
  • Accepted freshman Bentley students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at PLNU (3.65)
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than Bentley (48.4%)

PLNU vs. Bentley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PLNU or Bentley? 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 Bentley and PLNU.

  • The graduation rate at Bentley is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (88% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn on average $33,700 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($87,200 vs. $53,500)
  • Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Bentley graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,500)
  • PLNU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Bentley graduates. ($258 vs. $274)
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 79%)

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