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Belmont Westmont College Biola University USD Pepperdine San Diego State Samford University Azusa Pacific University Harding University Chapman Union University Vanderbilt| Point Loma Nazarene University | Lipscomb University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLNU | Lipscomb | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Nashville, TN | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,494 | 5,047 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #252 | #268 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | Churches of Christ | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | lipscomb.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | Lipscomb | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $42,600 | $35,848 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,600 | $35,848 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,850 | $14,804 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,370 | $27,386 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,277 | $27,096 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 99% |
Admission |
PLNU | Lipscomb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,065 | 4,244 | ||
| Admitted | 2,506 | 2,828 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.8% | 66.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.2% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 22/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1410 | 1145/1350 | ||
| 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 | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
PLNU | Lipscomb | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLNU | Lipscomb | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $46,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $211 |
Diversity |
PLNU | Lipscomb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 21% | 25% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
PLNU | Lipscomb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 44% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | Lipscomb | ||
| 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
- Lipscomb University is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (5,047 students vs. 4,494 students)
PLNU vs. Lipscomb Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Lipscomb?
- Point Loma Nazarene University is 18.8% more expensive to attend than Lipscomb for in-state tuition ($42,600.00 vs. $35,848.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.8% higher at PLNU than Lipscomb University ($42,600.00 vs. $35,848.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lipscomb University than PLNU ($27,386 vs. $36,370)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 15.2% lower than costs at Lipscomb University ($12,850 vs. $14,804)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lipscomb University than Point Loma Nazarene University (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lipscomb University students is 33.6% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($27,096 vs. $20,277)
PLNU vs. Lipscomb Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or Lipscomb? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lipscomb or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at Lipscomb University (1176) is 28 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
- Incoming PLNU students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at Lipscomb (26)
- Accepted freshman Lipscomb students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at PLNU (3.65)
- PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than Lipscomb (66.6%)
PLNU vs. Lipscomb Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or Lipscomb? 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 Lipscomb and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at PLNU is higher than Lipscomb University (72% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Lipscomb graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $46,900)
- Lipscomb University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
- Lipscomb graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
- More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lipscomb students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/