Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Westmont College Biola University USD Pepperdine San Diego State Azusa Pacific University Liberty University Chapman UCSD USF Loyola Marymount Cal Poly| Point Loma Nazarene University | Messiah College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PLNU | Messiah College | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Grantham, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 4,319 | 3,231 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #292 | #358 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | Interdenominational | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | messiah.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | Messiah College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,400 | $38,550 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,400 | $38,550 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,800 | $11,560 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $34,933 | $24,120 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,422 | $27,519 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
PLNU | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,149 | 2,438 | ||
| Admitted | 2,580 | 1,936 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.9% | 79.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.7% | 30.3% | ||
| 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 | 1090/1340 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
PLNU | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
PLNU | Messiah College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $48,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,989 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $268 |
Diversity |
PLNU | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 34% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 66% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
PLNU | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 35% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | Messiah College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Point Loma Nazarene University is larger than than Messiah College based on total student enrollment (4,319 students vs. 3,231 students)
PLNU vs. Messiah College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Messiah College?
- Point Loma Nazarene University is 4.8% more expensive to attend than Messiah College for in-state tuition ($40,400.00 vs. $38,550.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.8% higher at PLNU than Messiah College ($40,400.00 vs. $38,550.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messiah College than PLNU ($24,120 vs. $34,933)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 2.1% lower than costs at Point Loma Nazarene University ($11,560 vs. $11,800)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University as Messiah College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah College students is 41.7% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($27,519 vs. $19,422)
PLNU vs. Messiah College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or Messiah College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messiah College or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at Point Loma Nazarene University (1148) is 19 points higher than at Messiah College (1129)
- Incoming PLNU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Messiah College (25)
- Accepted freshman Messiah College 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 Messiah College (79.4%)
PLNU vs. Messiah College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or Messiah College? 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 Messiah College and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at Messiah College is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (74% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn on average $4,900 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $48,600)
- Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate with a $989 lower median federal student loan debt than Messiah College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,989)
- PLNU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Messiah College graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
- More Messiah College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 79%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/