Calvin University vs Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU)

Calvin University and Point Loma Nazarene University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Calvin, a private Christian liberal arts college in Grand Rapids, Michigan, boasts a 79% acceptance rate and a student body predominantly comprised of Caucasian students (76%). On the other hand, Point Loma, a private Christian university in San Diego, California, has a slightly higher acceptance rate of 84% and a more diverse student body, with 49% Caucasian, 22% Hispanic, and 13% Asian students. While both universities offer a range of undergraduate programs, Calvin is known for its strengths in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, while Point Loma excels in business, nursing, and education. With graduation rates of 77% and 73% respectively, both universities ensure that their students are well-prepared for their future careers. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional universities and make an informed
Calvin University logo

Calvin University

Point Loma Nazarene University logo

Point Loma Nazarene University

Overview

Location Grand Rapids, Michigan San Diego, California
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system 4-1-4 Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 86.0% 84.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Protestant Evangelical

Admission

Acceptance rate 75.1% 83.7%
Application fees $35
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1120 - 1340 1170 - 1350
ACT range 24 - 30 22 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 61.0% 15.0%
Students submitting ACT score 24.0% 10.0%
Total number of applicants 3,986 3,060
Total number of admissions given out 2,992 2,560
Admitted students who chose to enroll 736 662
Yield rate 24.6% 25.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $52,840 $62,642
Average net price $27,120 $34,851
Tuition $37,990 $38,800
Room & board $10,800 $11,300
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

95.0%
Average amount $24,410
100.0%
Average amount $18,365
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $4,987
45.0%
Average amount $5,325
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $16,620
6.0%
Average amount $22,040

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,068
Men 47.1% Women 52.9%
3,174
Men 34.3% Women 65.7%
Graduate students 189
Men 38.1% Women 61.9%
1,271
Men 29.2% Women 70.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 26.3%
International students 11.7% 1.1%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,453 1,845
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Washington Colorado Arizona Hawaii

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Theology
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 77.3% 72.7%
Dropout rate 7.6% 3.8%
Transferred out 14.7% 22.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,594
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $73,154
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,088
  • Year 2: $65,188
  • Year 3: $71,772
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,940
  • Year 2: $57,564
  • Year 3: $62,400
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,498
  • Year 2: $57,770
  • Year 3: $60,645
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,593
  • Year 2: $45,980
  • Year 3: $53,866
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,275
  • Year 2: $60,878
  • Year 3: $51,938
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,034
  • Year 2: $32,382
  • Year 3: $44,640
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,528
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $39,008
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,756
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $37,976
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,469
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $36,953
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,619
  • Year 2: $118,210
  • Year 3: $128,990
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,406
  • Year 2: $85,206
  • Year 3: $89,492
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,310
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $80,351
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $76,001
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,749
  • Year 3: $74,448
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,649
  • Year 2: $61,681
  • Year 3: $59,139
Business/Corporate Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,198
  • Year 2: $40,402
  • Year 3: $43,339
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,184
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $43,147
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,147
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $41,978
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,647
  • Year 2: $30,228
  • Year 3: $35,103

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