UCSC vs. PLNU

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and Point Loma Nazarene 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.

University of California Santa Cruz
Point Loma Nazarene University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • PLNU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • PLNU 4,757
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • PLNU #250
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • PLNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • PLNU $13,650
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • PLNU $39,696
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • PLNU $20,702
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • PLNU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • PLNU 3,265
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • PLNU 2,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • PLNU 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • PLNU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • PLNU 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • PLNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • PLNU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • PLNU
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • PLNU 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • PLNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • PLNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • PLNU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • PLNU 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • PLNU $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • PLNU 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • PLNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • PLNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • PLNU 33%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • PLNU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • PLNU High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • PLNU No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • PLNU 59%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • PLNU 5%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • PLNU 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • PLNU 23%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • PLNU 7%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • PLNU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • PLNU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • PLNU 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • PLNU 26%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than PLNU based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 4,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Point Loma Nazarene University is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1.

UCSC vs. PLNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or PLNU? 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 University of California Santa Cruz than PLNU ($18,059 vs. $39,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 31.6% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($13,650 vs. $19,948).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is 189% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $30,245 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at UCSC than at Point Loma Nazarene University (about $3,955 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than at University of California Santa Cruz (94% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 10% larger than aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students ($22,774 vs. $20,702).

UCSC vs. PLNU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Point Loma Nazarene University (1270) is 10 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at PLNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; PLNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; PLNU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PLNU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than UCSC (65.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 21.4% at PLNU.

UCSC vs. PLNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and PLNU? 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).

  • University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $5,041 lower median loan debt than PLNU graduates ($19,959 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PLNU graduates ($206 vs. $258).
  • More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 74%)

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.