PLNU vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

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

San Francisco State University is larger than PLNU based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 4,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

PLNU vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State University than PLNU ($13,168 vs. $39,696).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 38.7% lower than at San Francisco State University ($13,650 vs. $22,266).
• Point Loma Nazarene University is 481.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $38,300 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 125.1% higher at PLNU than at San Francisco State University (about $25,700 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than at San Francisco State University (94% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students is 59.3% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($20,702 vs. $12,996).

PLNU vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State and PLNU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Point Loma Nazarene University (1270) is 240 points higher than at San Francisco State (1030).
• Incoming PLNU students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 19 at San Francisco State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365; San Francisco State University 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32; San Francisco State University 16/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PLNU - Test optional; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: PLNU Feb 15, 2027; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman PLNU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at San Francisco State (3.31).
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than PLNU (83.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at PLNU vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

PLNU vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PLNU and San Francisco State? 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).

• Point Loma Nazarene University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than San Francisco State University's (46%).
• Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of about $900 more per year than San Francisco State graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $7,750 lower median loan debt than PLNU graduates ($17,250 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PLNU graduates ($178 vs. $258).
• More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 63%)

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.