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UCLA Stanford NYU Pomona Loyola Marymount Claremont McKenna Cornell UC Berkeley UCSD Notre Dame Emory Northwestern| Point Loma Nazarene University | University of Southern California | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLNU | USC | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Los Angeles, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,494 | 47,147 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #252 | #36 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | usc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | USC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $42,600 | $66,640 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,600 | $66,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,850 | $19,198 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,370 | $41,496 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,277 | $43,208 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 68% |
Admission |
PLNU | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,065 | 80,808 | ||
| Admitted | 2,506 | 8,094 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.8% | 10% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.2% | 44.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1410 | 1440/1550 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
PLNU | USC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLNU | USC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 90% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $85,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $22,375 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $231 |
Diversity |
PLNU | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 25% | ||
| % Women | 21% | 30% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 40% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
PLNU | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 43% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 38% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | USC | ||
| 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
- University of Southern California is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (47,147 students vs. 4,494 students)
PLNU vs. USC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or USC?
- University of Southern California is 56.4% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($66,640.00 vs. $42,600.00)
- Out of state tuition is 56.4% higher at USC than Point Loma Nazarene University ($66,640.00 vs. $42,600.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Point Loma Nazarene University than USC ($36,370 vs. $41,496)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 49.4% lower than costs at University of Southern California ($12,850 vs. $19,198)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than University of Southern California (93% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 113.1% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($43,208 vs. $20,277)
PLNU vs. USC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or USC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 243 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
- Incoming USC students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at PLNU (26)
- Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at PLNU (3.65)
- PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than USC (10%)
PLNU vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or USC? 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 USC and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at USC is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (90% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $32,000 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $53,500)
- University of Southern California students graduate with a $2,625 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($22,375 vs. $25,000)
- USC graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($231 vs. $258)
- More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 79%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/