PLNU vs. Messiah College

Should I go to Point Loma Nazarene University or Messiah College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PLNU or Messiah College 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. Messiah College comparison
Point Loma Nazarene University Messiah College College 3 College 4
Point Loma Nazarene University Messiah College
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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
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

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/