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Point Loma Nazarene University

#1361 in US ranking San Diego, CA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Point Loma Nazarene University award

Cost

Cost / year
$64,950
Tuition & fees
$48,450
Avg. aid
$19,348
Receiving aid
95%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
84%
SAT range
1175–1365
ACT range
25–32

Outcomes

Graduation rate
77%
Median salary
$51,927
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at Point Loma Nazarene University?

PLNU's reported six-year graduation rate is 77% for the measured cohort of first-time, full-time undergraduates pursuing a bachelor's degree. Its four-year rate is 68%. These figures describe how earlier entering cohorts completed degrees within specified periods; they are not predictions for a newly admitted student.

The reported first-year retention rate is 86%, meaning that most students in the measured first-time cohort returned for a second year. Graduation-rate measures have important limits: the standard first-time cohort does not describe all transfer students, and an institution-wide rate can conceal differences among majors. Applicants comparing costs should consider both the four-year rate and the possibility that an additional semester or year would add substantial expense.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Point Loma Nazarene University?

College Scorecard program figures offer a limited view of earnings roughly one year after completion for graduates covered by its federal-aid-based data. They are reported median earnings for the measured group, not starting-salary offers, outcomes for every graduate, or guarantees of future pay.

Examples in the October 2026 program data include $85,406 for registered nursing, $42,184 for business administration and management, and $34,147 for communication and media studies. The reported figure for biology is $28,314. Differences can reflect occupation, location, further education, and who was included in a program's measurable cohort; they should not be read as the value added by one major alone.

Some graduates enter additional training or graduate school rather than a full-time job immediately. When comparing programs, students should pair these early earnings measures with information on licensing, typical entry-level roles, graduate study plans, and the debt they personally expect to take on.

Point Loma Nazarene University Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
77%
4-year graduation
68%
6-year graduation
77%

Point Loma Nazarene University Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
86%
Employed 1 year after graduation
97%

Point Loma Nazarene University Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$51,927
4 years after graduation
$72,880
5 years after graduation
$73,681
7 years after graduation
$71,133
10 years after starting college
$68,713

Alumni Salary for Point Loma Nazarene University Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

$24,669

Biology, General

$28,314

Business Administration, Management and Operations

$42,184

Communication and Media Studies

$34,147

Engineering Physics

$47,652

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

$26,260

Psychology, General

$25,647

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$85,406

Sociology

$35,719

Point Loma Nazarene University Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

7577152

Health Professions and Related Programs

11337150

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

65267

Psychology

48957

Education

50353

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

351550

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

361046

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

62632

Visual and Performing Arts

24832

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

18927

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Education

11930149

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

415394

Health Professions and Related Programs

461460

Psychology

421153

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

232447

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

527

Theology and Religious Vocations

246

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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