Quad

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CAQuad's selectivitySelective
Known forTest-optional heavyFaith-centered
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Point Loma Nazarene admits about 8 in 10 applicants (84%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 37% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

84%

84%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

3,265

Admitted

2,732

Yield

21%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1175–1365

10001600
ACT middle 50%

25–32

1836
Applications +8% since fall 2014 · admit rate 70% → 84%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,188 undergrads, where 21% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

3.2K

undergrads · larger than 70% of colleges

Diversity index

0.65

Pell Grant

21%

below the median

First generation

29%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-II · Pacific West ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.56 → 0.65 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (12% of graduates). 13 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 50% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,365 a year on instruction per student.

13 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 50% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

12% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$114.9K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

100%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$11.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $41,332 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $17K more than the national median. The 94% who received grants paid $39,696 on average; the other 6% paid the full sticker price of $60,868.

32%

$41.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $17K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$60,868 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
38% · avg $19K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 32% of full price

Federal loans

50%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −4% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $63,998 ten years after enrolling, more than at 76% of colleges; 78% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.6 years of that salary.

78%

78%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$64K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23K

≈ $244/month for 10 years

Retention

86%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 73% → 77% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 4%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 8% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 70% to 84%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −4% after inflation

  • Applications

    Steady

    +8%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 70% → 84%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.56 → 0.65

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

The Catholic University of America

83% admit · 3.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private
Compare side-by-side

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott

77% admit · SAT 1255 · 3.2K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso private
Compare side-by-side

University of St Thomas

85% admit · SAT 1342 · 6.2K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso private
Compare side-by-side

Wentworth Institute of Technology

91% admit · SAT 1215 · 3.7K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso private
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Point Loma Nazarene University (2026)

    Point Loma Nazarene University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 121309 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything