PLNU vs. Westmont College

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

 PLNU Westmont College
Location San Diego, CA Santa Barbara, CA
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 4,319 1,284
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #292 #146
Religious Affiliation Church of the Nazarene - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pointloma.edu westmont.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 PLNU Westmont College
Tuition (In State) $40,400 $48,840
Tuition (Out of State) $40,400 $48,840
Room & Board $11,800 $15,760
Avg Net Price $34,933 $33,112
Avg Grant Aid $19,422 $33,900
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

 PLNU Westmont College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,149 2,326
Admitted 2,580 1,907
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 82%
Enrolled % 26.7% 16.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/30 30/33
SAT Range 1170/1350 1280/1458
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

Academics

 PLNU Westmont College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

 PLNU Westmont College
Graduation Rate 72% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,500 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,123
Median Loan Payment $258 $259

Diversity

 PLNU Westmont College
% Men 34% 39%
% Women 66% 61%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 64%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 23% 15%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

 PLNU Westmont College
% In-State 70% 65%
% Out-of-State 29% 33%

Campus

 PLNU Westmont College
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 Westmont College based on total student enrollment (4,319 students vs. 1,284 students)

PLNU vs. Westmont College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Westmont College?

  • Westmont College is 20.9% more expensive to attend than PLNU for in-state tuition ($48,840.00 vs. $40,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.9% higher at Westmont College than Point Loma Nazarene University ($48,840.00 vs. $40,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Westmont College than PLNU ($33,112 vs. $34,933)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 33.6% lower than costs at Westmont College ($11,800 vs. $15,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than Westmont College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Westmont College students is 74.5% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($33,900 vs. $19,422)

PLNU vs. Westmont College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Westmont College (1179) is 31 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
  • Incoming PLNU students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at Westmont College (26)
  • Accepted freshman PLNU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Westmont College (3.59)
  • Westmont College has a higher acceptance rate (82%) than PLNU (81.9%)

PLNU vs. Westmont College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PLNU or Westmont College? 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 Westmont College and PLNU.

  • The graduation rate at Westmont College is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (77% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Westmont College earn on average $1,100 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $53,500)
  • Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate with a $123 lower median federal student loan debt than Westmont College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,123)
  • PLNU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Westmont College graduates. ($258 vs. $259)
  • More Westmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 79%)

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