Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California · Private Nonprofit · 83.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Point Loma Nazarene University earns a Fair Value ROI score of 62, anchored by strong completion (77.2%, subscore 87) and excellent loan repayment (84.7%, subscore 85). Earnings reach $43,600 six years out and $63,998 by year 10. Median debt is moderate at $22,990, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.527 (subscore 68). The 10.2-year payback period is on the longer side. Sticker tuition runs $46,250 with a published 4-year cost of $154,916, but actual net price drops to $38,729 after aid. Earnings premium of 18.7% is modest (subscore 38) - the school's outcomes don't fully justify its private-college pricing for general humanities or social-science tracks. The San Diego location commands a coastal-California cost-of-living premium that depresses earnings premiums in nominal-wage comparisons.
Point Loma Nazarene University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $46,250/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $46,250/yr |
| Average net price | $38,729/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $154,916 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,998 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,990 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 77.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,188 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $46,250/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $38,729/year, or roughly $154,916 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $30,999/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $41,680/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,990, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,600) and comes to 0.53, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $30,999 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $32,117 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,888 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,003 |
| $110,001+ | $41,680 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $30,999 net annually - still meaningful in absolute terms despite aid. Across four years that's roughly $124,000. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $32,117.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $32,888, and $75,001-$110,000 pays $33,003 - nearly identical, suggesting limited need-based aid scaling across the middle-income range. Total 4-year cost runs roughly $130,000-$132,000. Nursing shows the strongest program figures; for general-business or humanities tracks, check the borrowing scale at full price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $41,680 net annually, totaling roughly $167,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Point Loma Nazarene University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $74,495 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $114,919 | B+ |
| Psychology | $46,437 | D |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $46,119 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $59,654 | D |
| Biology | $65,365 | D |
| Teacher Education | $56,198 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $71,111 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,183 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,092 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the strongest program with 111 graduates and a B+ grade. First-year earnings of $97,296 - exceptionally strong, reflecting California's premium nursing-wage market - grow to $114,919 by year four against $27,000 in debt (0.278 ratio). This is by far the school's strongest economic case.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration is the largest program with 117 graduates, earning a B grade. First-year earnings of $48,397 grow to $74,495 by year four against $18,750 in debt (0.387 ratio). Solid outcomes for a generalist business credential.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences earns a B grade with 31 graduates annually. First-year earnings of $71,111 against $25,000 in debt produce a 0.352 ratio. San Diego's tech-employer ecosystem (Qualcomm, biotech CS roles, defense contractors) supports placement. A strong tech-track option in a non-flagship private.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 62 students with a D grade. First-year earnings of $27,724 against $22,411 in debt produce a 0.808 ratio. By year four earnings reach $46,437 - modest improvement. Bachelor-only borrowers face a tough trajectory; graduate study (MA in counseling, MSW, PhD) is essentially required to reach livable earnings. Plan accordingly.
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
Human Development graduates 55 students with a C grade. First-year earnings of $27,037 against $16,300 in debt produce a 0.603 ratio. By year four earnings climb to $46,119. The lower debt level versus other programs softens the math, but the field's earnings ceiling is constrained absent graduate credentialing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Point Loma Nazarene University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 83.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 565-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 610-695 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-32 |
| Enrollment | 3,188 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,862 |
Point Loma's admission rate of 83.7% indicates broad selectivity. SAT mid-ranges of 565-670 math and 610-695 reading and ACT 25-32 indicate a mid-strong academic profile. The relatively open admit policy paired with 77.2% completion is a healthy pattern - the Christian university supports students well through to graduation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Loma Nazarene University (this school) | 62 | $38,729 | $63,998 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | 64 | $29,822 | $67,725 |
| Samford University | 62 | $32,622 | $58,469 |
| Concordia University-Irvine | 62 | $28,115 | $65,083 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 62 | $22,866 | $59,986 |
| Cedarville University | 61 | $24,468 | $55,443 |
Who Thrives Here
Point Loma fits students drawn to faith-based education with strong nursing, business, or pre-health pathways and a coastal California campus. The Nazarene affiliation matters for fit; non-affiliated students should weigh the religious-formation expectations. Best-fit students are nursing-bound or pre-professional; humanities-only paths face heavier full-pay borrowing relative to outcomes.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Point Loma Nazarene University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $38,729 a year after aid ($154,916 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,998 a decade out, the cost takes about 10.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 77.2% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $22,990 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Point Loma Nazarene University: Common Questions
Is Point Loma Nazarene University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Point Loma Nazarene University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $38,729 a year after aid ($154,916 over four years) against $63,998 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 10.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Point Loma Nazarene University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $38,729 a year, or roughly $154,916 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Point Loma Nazarene University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,998 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,198 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Point Loma Nazarene University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.2 years for Point Loma Nazarene University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Point Loma Nazarene University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,990, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Point Loma Nazarene University?
The six-year graduation rate is 77.2%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.