Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Carleton College Westmont College Biola University USD Macalester College Lawrence University of St Thomas Pepperdine San Diego State Minnesota Whitman College Azusa Pacific University| Point Loma Nazarene University | St Olaf College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PLNU | St Olaf | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 4,494 | 3,074 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #252 | #161 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | stolaf.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | St Olaf | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $42,600 | $56,970 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,600 | $56,970 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,850 | $13,000 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,370 | $27,282 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,277 | $41,918 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 100% |
Admission |
PLNU | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,065 | 5,956 | ||
| Admitted | 2,506 | 3,106 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.8% | 52.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.2% | 26.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1410 | 1260/1470 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
PLNU | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
PLNU | St Olaf | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
PLNU | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 21% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
PLNU | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 43% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | St Olaf | ||
| 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 St Olaf based on total student enrollment (4,494 students vs. 3,074 students)
PLNU vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or St Olaf?
- St Olaf College is 33.7% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($56,970.00 vs. $42,600.00)
- Out of state tuition is 33.7% higher at St Olaf than Point Loma Nazarene University ($56,970.00 vs. $42,600.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St Olaf College than PLNU ($27,282 vs. $36,370)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 1.2% lower than costs at St Olaf College ($12,850 vs. $13,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than Point Loma Nazarene University (100% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 106.7% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($41,918 vs. $20,277)
PLNU vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 134 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
- Incoming St Olaf students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at PLNU (26)
- Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at PLNU (3.65)
- PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than St Olaf (52.1%)
PLNU vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or St Olaf? 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 St Olaf and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (85% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from St Olaf College earn on average $200 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $53,500)
- Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- PLNU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 79%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/