PLNU vs. Pomona

Deciding between Point Loma Nazarene University and Pomona College? 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
Pomona College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • PLNU Large City
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • PLNU 4,757
  • Pomona 1,700
  • Type
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PLNU #250
  • Pomona #20
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Pomona -
  • Status
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • Pomona Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PLNU
  • Pomona

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Room & Board
  • PLNU $13,650
  • Pomona $21,394
  • Average Net Price
  • PLNU $39,696
  • Pomona $19,938
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PLNU $20,702
  • Pomona $65,362
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PLNU 94%
  • Pomona 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PLNU 3,265
  • Pomona 12,249
  • Admitted
  • PLNU 2,732
  • Pomona 868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • Enrolled
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PLNU 1270
  • Pomona 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • PLNU 28
  • Pomona 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • PLNU 3.65
  • Pomona 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PLNU A-
  • Pomona A
  • Admissions Standards
  • PLNU Very High
  • Pomona Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • PLNU
  • Pomona Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • PLNU 25/32
  • Pomona 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • Pomona 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PLNU Test optional
  • Pomona Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PLNU 13:1
  • Pomona 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PLNU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PLNU 72%
  • Pomona 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PLNU $53,500
  • Pomona $70,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PLNU 79%
  • Pomona -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PLNU $25,000
  • Pomona $11,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PLNU $258
  • Pomona $113

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PLNU 33%
  • Pomona 45%
  • % Women
  • PLNU 67%
  • Pomona 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PLNU High
  • Pomona Very High
  • HBCU
  • PLNU No
  • Pomona No
  • % White
  • PLNU 59%
  • Pomona 40%
  • % Asian
  • PLNU 5%
  • Pomona 14%
  • % Black
  • PLNU 2%
  • Pomona 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • PLNU 23%
  • Pomona 15%
  • % Native American
  • PLNU 1%
  • Pomona 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PLNU 1%
  • Pomona 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PLNU 7%
  • Pomona 8%
  • % International
  • PLNU 1%
  • Pomona 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PLNU 2%
  • Pomona 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PLNU 72%
  • Pomona 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PLNU 26%
  • Pomona 50%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA with Pomona College in Claremont, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Point Loma Nazarene University is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (4,757 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1; Pomona College 7:1.

PLNU vs. Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Pomona? 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 Pomona College than PLNU ($19,938 vs. $39,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 36.2% lower than at Pomona College ($13,650 vs. $21,394).
  • Pomona College is 41.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than PLNU (about $19,170 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.4% higher at Pomona than at Point Loma Nazarene University (about $19,170 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than at Pomona College (94% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 215.7% larger than aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students ($65,362 vs. $20,702).

PLNU vs. Pomona Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 260 points higher than at PLNU (1270).
  • Incoming Pomona students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at PLNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365; Pomona College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32; Pomona College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PLNU - Test optional; Pomona - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PLNU Feb 15, 2027; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at PLNU (3.65).
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than Pomona (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at PLNU vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

PLNU vs. Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PLNU and Pomona? 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).

  • Pomona College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than PLNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than PLNU graduates ($11,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PLNU graduates ($113 vs. $258).

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.