PLNU vs. Drake

Deciding between Point Loma Nazarene University and Drake 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
Drake University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • Setting
  • PLNU Large City
  • Drake Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • PLNU 4,757
  • Drake 4,345
  • Type
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PLNU #250
  • Drake #160
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Drake -
  • Status
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • Drake Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PLNU
  • Drake

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Drake $52,130
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Drake $52,130
  • Room & Board
  • PLNU $13,650
  • Drake $12,452
  • Average Net Price
  • PLNU $39,696
  • Drake $29,565
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PLNU $20,702
  • Drake $35,498
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PLNU 94%
  • Drake 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PLNU 3,265
  • Drake 9,873
  • Admitted
  • PLNU 2,732
  • Drake 6,304
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • Drake 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • Drake 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PLNU 1270
  • Drake 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • PLNU 28
  • Drake 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • PLNU 3.65
  • Drake 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PLNU A-
  • Drake A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • PLNU Very High
  • Drake Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • PLNU
  • Drake Low
  • ACT Range
  • PLNU 25/32
  • Drake 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PLNU Test optional
  • Drake Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027
  • Drake

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PLNU 13:1
  • Drake 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PLNU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PLNU 72%
  • Drake 75%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PLNU $53,500
  • Drake $68,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PLNU 79%
  • Drake 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PLNU $25,000
  • Drake $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PLNU $258
  • Drake $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PLNU 33%
  • Drake 38%
  • % Women
  • PLNU 67%
  • Drake 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PLNU High
  • Drake Low
  • HBCU
  • PLNU No
  • Drake No
  • % White
  • PLNU 59%
  • Drake 79%
  • % Asian
  • PLNU 5%
  • Drake 3%
  • % Black
  • PLNU 2%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • PLNU 23%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Native American
  • PLNU 1%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PLNU 1%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PLNU 7%
  • Drake 2%
  • % International
  • PLNU 1%
  • Drake 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PLNU 2%
  • Drake 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PLNU 72%
  • Drake 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PLNU 26%
  • Drake 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA with Drake University in Des Moines, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Point Loma Nazarene University is larger than Drake based on total student enrollment (4,757 students vs. 4,345 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Drake University is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1; Drake University 11:1.

PLNU vs. Drake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Drake? 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 Drake University than PLNU ($29,565 vs. $39,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 8.8% lower than at Point Loma Nazarene University ($12,452 vs. $13,650).
  • Drake University is 12.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than PLNU (about $5,880 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at Drake than at Point Loma Nazarene University (about $5,880 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drake University than at Point Loma Nazarene University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 71.5% larger than aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students ($35,498 vs. $20,702).

PLNU vs. Drake Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Point Loma Nazarene University (1270) is 40 points higher than at Drake (1230).
  • Incoming PLNU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at Drake).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365; Drake University 1110/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32; Drake University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PLNU - Test optional; Drake - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PLNU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at PLNU (3.65).
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than Drake (63.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at PLNU vs. 9.8% at Drake.

PLNU vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PLNU and Drake? 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).

  • Drake University's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than PLNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Point Loma Nazarene University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Drake graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, PLNU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drake graduates ($258 vs. $268).
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 79%)

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.