PLNU vs. SCU

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

 PLNU SCU
Location San Diego, CA Santa Clara, CA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 4,319 9,178
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #292 #62
Religious Affiliation Church of the Nazarene Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pointloma.edu scu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 PLNU SCU
Tuition (In State) $40,400 $56,880
Tuition (Out of State) $40,400 $56,880
Room & Board $11,800 $17,112
Avg Net Price $34,933 $50,551
Avg Grant Aid $19,422 $25,295
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 72%

Admission

 PLNU SCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,149 16,650
Admitted 2,580 8,677
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 52.1%
Enrolled % 26.7% 18.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.67
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/30 29/33
SAT Range 1170/1350 1290/1480
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 Jan 7, 2025

Academics

 PLNU SCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

 PLNU SCU
Graduation Rate 72% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,500 $81,900
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

 PLNU SCU
% Men 34% 50%
% Women 66% 50%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 49%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 23% 17%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

 PLNU SCU
% In-State 70% 50%
% Out-of-State 29% 40%

Campus

 PLNU SCU
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

  • Santa Clara University is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (9,178 students vs. 4,319 students)

PLNU vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or SCU?

  • Santa Clara University is 40.8% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($56,880.00 vs. $40,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.8% higher at SCU than Point Loma Nazarene University ($56,880.00 vs. $40,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Point Loma Nazarene University than SCU ($34,933 vs. $50,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 45% lower than costs at Santa Clara University ($11,800 vs. $17,112)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than Santa Clara University (100% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 30.2% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($25,295 vs. $19,422)

PLNU vs. SCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Santa Clara University (1313) is 165 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
  • Incoming SCU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at PLNU (26)
  • Accepted freshman SCU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at PLNU (3.65)
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than SCU (52.1%)

PLNU vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SCU is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (85% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn on average $28,400 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($81,900 vs. $53,500)
  • Santa Clara University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
  • SCU graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 79%)

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