Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California · Private · 3,188 undergraduates · pointloma.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
83%
of 3,566 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1135 to 1350
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$75,300Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Point Loma Nazarene University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
83% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$75,300
a year in 2027-28, from a $75,300 sticker price
What to do with your 1255
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1255).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
Source: Undergraduate Admissions Checklists and Deadlines | PLNU · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov15Early Action · November 15, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Feb15Regular Decision · February 15, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
83%
of applicants were admitted: 2,952 of 3,566 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/15, hear by 12/21.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 8.4% of them sent SAT scores and 3.9% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1135 to 1350
Reading and Writing 600 to 710
Math 520 to 670
ACT composite 25 to 31
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160017%
- 1200 to 139954%
- 1000 to 119921%
- 800 to 9997.7%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.65
- 4.09%
- 3.75 to 3.9940%
- 3.50 to 3.7423%
- 3.25 to 3.4915%
- 3.00 to 3.249.5%
- 2.50 to 2.993.4%
- Below 2.500.3%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$75,300
a year
- Tuition$51,480
- Fees$1,040
- Food and housing$16,040
- Books and supplies$1,360
- Transportation and other$5,380
Point Loma Nazarene University published $72,402 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$34,042
- $30,001 to $48,000$33,911
- $48,001 to $75,000$31,096
- $75,001 to $110,000$34,180
- Over $110,000$45,177
Financial aid
71%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$27,329
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
41%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $15,804 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 4/2
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
40 of 40
Earn credit with a score of 3
31 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $5,150Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART1000 |
| Biology | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIO GE with lab |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MTH1044/1064/1073 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MTH1044/1064/1073; MTH 1074 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | PSC GE no lab |
| Chemistry | 5 | 4 | CHE1052 + lab |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | CHN1001 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | CHN1001, 1002 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POL1001 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CSC1043 & Lab or EGR1043 & Lab |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CSC1099 CSC Elective |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | half ENG GE |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 4 | full ENG GE |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 2 | ENG2000 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | BIO1002 no lab |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIS1011 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FRE1001 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FRE1001 & 1002 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GER1001 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GER1001 & 1002 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FRL1001 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FRL1001 & 1002 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FRL1001 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FRL1001 & 1002 |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | FRL1001 |
| Latin | 4 | 6 | FRL1001 & 1002 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECO1001 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECO1002 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 2 | Elective |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHY1044+1044L |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHY1054+1054L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHY1054+1054L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHY1044+1044L |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 3 | MTH 1033 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSY1003 |
| Research | 4 | 3 | Elective |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 | Elective |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPA1001 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPA1001 & 1002 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPA2050 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPA2050 & 2051 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MTH2003 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POL1065 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIS1011 or HIS1020 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HIS1011 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
77%
Come back for a second year
86%
Typical earnings
$68,713
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Point Loma Nazarene University$112,510
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 12 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Point Loma Nazarene University. The Point Loma Nazarene University logo is a trademark of the college.