Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is a private Christian liberal arts university located in San Diego, California. Founded in 1902, PLNU offers over 60 undergraduate programs and several graduate programs in areas such as business, nursing, theology, and education. The university is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene and places a strong emphasis on integrating faith and learning, encouraging students to grow spiritually while pursuing their academic and professional goals.
PLNU's picturesque campus is situated atop a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, providing students with a breathtaking backdrop for their studies. The university is known for its close-knit community and small class sizes, allowing for personalized attention and collaboration among students and faculty. In addition to academic excellence, PLNU is also committed to the holistic development of students, offering various opportunities for involvement in athletics, clubs, and service projects both on and off-campus.
With its diverse academic offerings, faith-based approach, and stunning campus location, Point Loma Nazarene University provides students with a unique college experience. The university's commitment to integrating faith, learning, and service helps students develop a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a positive impact in their communities and the world. Whether students are pursuing a degree in the arts, sciences, healthcare, or business, PLNU provides a supportive and nurturing environment where students are challenged intellectually, inspired spiritually, and equipped to thrive in their chosen fields.
Located in San Diego, CA and set in a suburban environment, Point Loma Nazarene University is a private comprehensive higher education institution. Its campus is 93 acres in size. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 81%. The freshman retention rate at Point Loma Nazarene University is 84.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 76%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is April 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Learn more about what Point Loma Nazarene University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
3,154
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
81%
Acceptance Rate
$38,800
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
76%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Here are the most relevant facts you need to know about admission at Point Loma Nazarene University.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,580 in 2023. Point Loma Nazarene University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
14.5% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 8.1% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 17% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 48% between 1,200 and 1,399, 34% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 1% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 30.4, 42.9 between 24-29 and 26.8 in the range between 18-23.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2023 was 27 while the average GPA was 3.67. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Point Loma Nazarene University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 640 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 619.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by April 15. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is July 1.
81%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Point Loma Nazarene University was 84.6% in 2023, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 76%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best match for you is not a simple task. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Point Loma Nazarene University in 2023 was 4,319.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 20.5. There was a total of 3,154 undergraduate students, including 32 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 321.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,123 male and 2,115 female full-time students in 2023, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality. There were 156 full-time graduate male and 353 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Point Loma Nazarene University.
This school had 222 Asian students and 70 Afro-American students in 2023. 809 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 256 as multirace. The school also had 12 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 9 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 62 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Point Loma Nazarene University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition in 2023 was $38,800 for full-time domestic students. Since this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $700 in 2023.
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important expense. The approximate cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,126.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Point Loma Nazarene University was $11,300 in 2023. If you only wanted a dorm room, it cost $6,250 for the 2023 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 38,800 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,300 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,126 |
| Total Expense | $ 51,226 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at Point Loma Nazarene University.
The most recent records show that 397 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $27,390.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 1,562 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 1,590. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $5,995,788, and state $4,321,718. The students of Point Loma Nazarene University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $21,546,360, and external in the amount of $1,668,731.
$14,128
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 237 students overall (including freshmen) at Point Loma Nazarene University in 2023. 80 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $5,995,788 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $2,086,543. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $14,403,827. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,206,328 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2023, this ratio at Point Loma Nazarene University was 13:1. That means that there were 13 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 500 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 208 male and 292 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Point Loma Nazarene University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Point Loma Nazarene University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Point Loma Nazarene University offers a number of services needed for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Point Loma Nazarene University.
All in all, campus life at Point Loma Nazarene University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Career Counselling
At Point Loma Nazarene University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, CA.
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Point Loma Nazarene University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Point Loma Nazarene University is 38,800 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Point Loma Nazarene University is 81%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Point Loma Nazarene University is 84.6%.
Contact Information
Point Loma Nazarene University,
3900 Lomaland Drive
San Diego, CA
92106-2899
619 849-2200
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.