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Seattle U Westmont College Biola University UW-Seattle USD PLU Pepperdine San Diego State Azusa Pacific University George Fox University Chapman UCSD| Point Loma Nazarene University | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLNU | SPU | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,319 | 3,118 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #292 | #270 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,400 | $36,504 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,400 | $36,504 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,800 | $14,409 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $34,933 | $26,549 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,422 | $25,359 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
PLNU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,149 | 3,895 | ||
| Admitted | 2,580 | 3,533 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.9% | 90.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.7% | 15.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1350 | 1080/1350 | ||
| 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 | Jul 11, 2025 |
Academics |
PLNU | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLNU | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $264 |
Diversity |
PLNU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 34% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 66% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 8% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
PLNU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 26% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | SPU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Point Loma Nazarene University is larger than than SPU based on total student enrollment (4,319 students vs. 3,118 students)
PLNU vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or SPU?
- Point Loma Nazarene University is 10.7% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($40,400.00 vs. $36,504.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.7% higher at PLNU than Seattle Pacific University ($40,400.00 vs. $36,504.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than PLNU ($26,549 vs. $34,933)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 22.1% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($11,800 vs. $14,409)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Seattle Pacific University students is 30.6% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($25,359 vs. $19,422)
PLNU vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at Point Loma Nazarene University (1148) is 3 points higher than at SPU (1145)
- Incoming PLNU students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at SPU (26)
- Accepted freshman PLNU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than PLNU (81.9%)
PLNU vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or SPU? 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 SPU and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (74% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn on average $3,100 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $50,400)
- Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate with a $603 lower median federal student loan debt than SPU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,603)
- PLNU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than SPU graduates. ($258 vs. $264)
- More SPU 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/