Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) vs Simpson University

Point Loma Nazarene University and Simpson University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Point Loma Nazarene University, located in San Diego, California, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to Simpson University's 68% in Redding, California. While Point Loma Nazarene University excels in nursing, business, and psychology programs, Simpson University is renowned for its strong offerings in education, psychology, and business. Point Loma Nazarene University's student body is more diverse, with 49% female and 51% male students, while Simpson University's student body is predominantly female at 60%. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Point Loma Nazarene University at 70% and Simpson University at 65%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Point Loma Nazarene University logo

Point Loma Nazarene University

Simpson University logo

Simpson University

Overview

Location San Diego, California Redding, California
Campus setting City: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 84.0% 57.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Evangelical Evangelical

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.7% 66.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1170 - 1350 N/A
ACT range 22 - 30 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 15.0%
Students submitting ACT score 10.0%
Total number of applicants 3,060 953
Total number of admissions given out 2,560 638
Admitted students who chose to enroll 662 134
Yield rate 25.9% 21.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $62,642 $58,121
Average net price $34,851 $25,311
Tuition $38,800 $34,400
Room & board $11,300
Room/dormitory: $6,300

Meal plan: $5,600
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $18,365
99.0%
Average amount $23,390
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $5,325
41.0%
Average amount $5,439
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $22,040
8.0%
Average amount $17,383

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,174
Men 34.3% Women 65.7%
806
Men 42.8% Women 57.2%
Graduate students 1,271
Men 29.2% Women 70.8%
187
Men 37.4% Women 62.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 26.3% N/A
International students 1.1% 1.6%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,845 544
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Colorado Arizona Hawaii N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.7% 44.8%
Dropout rate 3.8% 19.4%
Transferred out 22.9% 35.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,112
  • Year 2: $84,161
  • Year 3: $87,775
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,227
  • Year 2: $50,270
  • Year 3: $48,770
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,108
  • Year 2: $36,042
  • Year 3: $38,386
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,289
  • Year 2: $40,281
  • Year 3: $38,233
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $17,753
  • Year 2: $24,421
  • Year 3: $31,400
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,149
  • Year 2: $31,765
  • Year 3: $31,011
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $19,227
  • Year 3: $19,275
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: N/A
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: N/A
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,971
  • Year 3: N/A

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