PLNU vs. ONU

Should I go to Point Loma Nazarene University or Ohio Northern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PLNU or ONU 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. Ohio Northern University comparison
Point Loma Nazarene University Ohio Northern University College 3 College 4
Point Loma Nazarene University Ohio Northern University
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Overview

PLNU ONU
Location San Diego, CA Ada, OH
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,319 3,015
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #292 #211
Religious Affiliation Church of the Nazarene United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pointloma.edu onu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PLNU ONU
Tuition (In State) $40,400 $35,480
Tuition (Out of State) $40,400 $35,480
Room & Board $11,800 $12,900
Avg Net Price $34,933 $27,398
Avg Grant Aid $19,422 $24,235
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

PLNU ONU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,149 6,625
Admitted 2,580 3,602
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 54.4%
Enrolled % 26.7% 18.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.78
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/30 25/30
SAT Range 1170/1350 1160/1340
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

PLNU ONU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

PLNU ONU
Graduation Rate 72% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,500 $71,200
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

PLNU ONU
% Men 34% 52%
% Women 66% 48%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 84%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 23% 1%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

PLNU ONU
% In-State 70% 83%
% Out-of-State 29% 16%

Campus

PLNU ONU
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 ONU based on total student enrollment (4,319 students vs. 3,015 students)

PLNU vs. ONU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or ONU?

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is 13.9% more expensive to attend than ONU for in-state tuition ($40,400.00 vs. $35,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.9% higher at PLNU than Ohio Northern University ($40,400.00 vs. $35,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio Northern University than PLNU ($27,398 vs. $34,933)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 9.3% lower than costs at Ohio Northern University ($11,800 vs. $12,900)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than Ohio Northern University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 24.8% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($24,235 vs. $19,422)

PLNU vs. ONU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or ONU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ONU or PLNU .

  • The average SAT score at Ohio Northern University (1158) is 10 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
  • Incoming PLNU students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at ONU (26)
  • Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at PLNU (3.65)
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than ONU (54.4%)

PLNU vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PLNU or ONU? 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 ONU and PLNU.

  • The graduation rate at PLNU is higher than Ohio Northern University (72% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn on average $17,700 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($71,200 vs. $53,500)
  • Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than ONU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • PLNU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than ONU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More ONU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/