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RIT St Lawrence University Westmont College Biola University RPI USD Syracuse Pepperdine San Diego State UB Binghamton University Azusa Pacific University| Point Loma Nazarene University | Clarkson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLNU | Clarkson | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Potsdam, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 4,319 | 3,719 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #292 | #220 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | clarkson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | Clarkson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,400 | $54,960 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,400 | $54,960 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,800 | $16,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $34,933 | $32,450 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,422 | $41,285 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
PLNU | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,149 | 6,594 | ||
| Admitted | 2,580 | 5,171 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.9% | 78.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.7% | 11.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1350 | 1190/1370 | ||
| 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 | Clarkson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLNU | Clarkson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 72% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $70,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
PLNU | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 34% | 64% | ||
| % Women | 66% | 36% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 84% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
PLNU | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 31% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | Clarkson | ||
| 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 Clarkson based on total student enrollment (4,319 students vs. 3,719 students)
PLNU vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Clarkson?
- Clarkson University is 36% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $40,400.00)
- Out of state tuition is 36% higher at Clarkson than Point Loma Nazarene University ($54,960.00 vs. $40,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than PLNU ($32,450 vs. $34,933)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 41.9% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($11,800 vs. $16,744)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University as Clarkson University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 112.6% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($41,285 vs. $19,422)
PLNU vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or Clarkson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clarkson or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at Clarkson University (1198) is 50 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
- Incoming Clarkson students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at PLNU (26)
- Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at PLNU (3.65)
- PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Clarkson (78.4%)
PLNU vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or Clarkson? 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 Clarkson and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at PLNU is the same as at Clarkson University (72% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $17,300 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $53,500)
- Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- PLNU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 79%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/