PLNU vs. SCU

Deciding between Point Loma Nazarene University and Santa Clara University? 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
Santa Clara University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Setting
  • PLNU Large City
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • PLNU 4,757
  • SCU 9,728
  • Type
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PLNU #250
  • SCU #61
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PLNU
  • SCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • SCU $61,293
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • SCU $61,293
  • Room & Board
  • PLNU $13,650
  • SCU $19,893
  • Average Net Price
  • PLNU $39,696
  • SCU $53,883
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PLNU $20,702
  • SCU $28,368
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PLNU 94%
  • SCU 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PLNU 3,265
  • SCU 18,970
  • Admitted
  • PLNU 2,732
  • SCU 9,105
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • SCU 48%
  • Enrolled
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PLNU 1270
  • SCU 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • PLNU 28
  • SCU 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • PLNU 3.65
  • SCU 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PLNU A-
  • SCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • PLNU Very High
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • PLNU
  • SCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • PLNU 25/32
  • SCU 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PLNU Test optional
  • SCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PLNU 33%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Women
  • PLNU 67%
  • SCU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PLNU High
  • SCU High
  • HBCU
  • PLNU No
  • SCU No
  • % White
  • PLNU 59%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Asian
  • PLNU 5%
  • SCU 16%
  • % Black
  • PLNU 2%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • PLNU 23%
  • SCU 17%
  • % Native American
  • PLNU 1%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PLNU 1%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PLNU 7%
  • SCU 7%
  • % International
  • PLNU 1%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PLNU 2%
  • SCU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PLNU 72%
  • SCU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PLNU 26%
  • SCU 36%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Clara University is larger than PLNU based on total student enrollment (9,728 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); Santa Clara University is in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1; Santa Clara University 11:1.

PLNU vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or SCU? 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 Point Loma Nazarene University than SCU ($39,696 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 31.4% lower than at Santa Clara University ($13,650 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 32.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than PLNU (about $15,043 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.5% higher at SCU than at Point Loma Nazarene University (about $15,043 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than at Santa Clara University (94% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 37% larger than aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students ($28,368 vs. $20,702).

PLNU vs. SCU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 150 points higher than at PLNU (1270).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at PLNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365; Santa Clara University 1350/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32; Santa Clara University 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PLNU - Test optional; SCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PLNU Feb 15, 2027; SCU Jan 7, 2027.
  • 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 (83.7%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at PLNU vs. 17.7% at SCU.

PLNU vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PLNU and SCU? 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).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $28,400 more per year than PLNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than PLNU graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.