Point Loma Nazarene University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in San Diego, California. It enrolls 3,188 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes82
Value9
Affordability13
Selectivity54
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.7%, Point Loma Nazarene University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.7%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1175 – 1365
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Point Loma Nazarene University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Point Loma Nazarene University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $38,729 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$38,729
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
50%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$46,250
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,650
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,088
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,448
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$60,488
Application fee: $55 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$30,999
$30,001 – $48,000
$32,117
$48,001 – $75,000
$32,888
$75,001 – $110,000
$33,003
Over $110,000
$41,680
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$8,70025%percentile
$22,990Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $3,490
No Pell $19,094
↓ $3,896
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $3,490
Independent students $18,750
↓ $4,240
Female students $19,500
↓ $3,490
Male students $19,000
↓ $3,990
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $15,000, less than completers ($22,990), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
70% of full-time students who enrolled at Point Loma Nazarene University graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
70%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $63,998 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,998
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$55,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,300, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Point Loma Nazarene University is home to 3,188 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,188
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 51.6%1,644
Hispanic 27.0%860
Other 8.5%271
Asian 6.7%214
Black 2.1%67
International 1.2%37
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Point Loma Nazarene University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Diego, California
Housing
Mostly residential1,859 beds on campus
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Point Loma Nazarene University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
54 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Point Loma Nazarene University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$241M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$101,835
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
162 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
87
54%
$113,894
Associate Professors
53
33%
$92,976
Assistant Professors
22
14%
$75,485
Pros & Cons of Point Loma Nazarene University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Point Loma Nazarene University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Point Loma Nazarene University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Point Loma Nazarene University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Point Loma Nazarene University.
Is Point Loma Nazarene University hard to get into?
Point Loma Nazarene University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at Point Loma Nazarene University?
Point Loma Nazarene University has an acceptance rate of 83.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Point Loma Nazarene University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Point Loma Nazarene University scored between 1175 and 1365 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Point Loma Nazarene University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Point Loma Nazarene University scored between 25 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Point Loma Nazarene University cost?
The average net price after aid at Point Loma Nazarene University is $38,729 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Point Loma Nazarene University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,998 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $38,729 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Point Loma Nazarene University known for?
Point Loma Nazarene University is best known for its programs in Education, General, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Point Loma Nazarene University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Point Loma Nazarene University are $63,998, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Point Loma Nazarene University accredited?
Yes. Point Loma Nazarene University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Point Loma Nazarene University?
Point Loma Nazarene University enrolls 3,188 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Point Loma Nazarene University?
Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 70% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Point Loma Nazarene University a public or private college?
Point Loma Nazarene University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Point Loma Nazarene University located?
Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, California.
What programs does Point Loma Nazarene University offer?
Point Loma Nazarene University offers 54 distinct programs. The most popular include Education, General, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Point Loma Nazarene University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Point Loma Nazarene University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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