PLNU vs. Belmont

Deciding between Point Loma Nazarene University and Belmont University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Point Loma Nazarene University
Belmont University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • Belmont Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • PLNU Large City
  • Belmont Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • PLNU 4,757
  • Belmont 8,803
  • Type
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • Belmont Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PLNU #250
  • Belmont #300
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Belmont Interdenominational
  • Status
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • Belmont Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PLNU
  • Belmont

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Room & Board
  • PLNU $13,650
  • Belmont $15,010
  • Average Net Price
  • PLNU $39,696
  • Belmont $38,578
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PLNU $20,702
  • Belmont $23,992
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PLNU 94%
  • Belmont 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PLNU 3,265
  • Belmont 9,165
  • Admitted
  • PLNU 2,732
  • Belmont 8,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • Belmont 95.3%
  • Enrolled
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • Belmont 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PLNU 1270
  • Belmont 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • PLNU 28
  • Belmont 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • PLNU 3.65
  • Belmont 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PLNU A-
  • Belmont A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • PLNU Very High
  • Belmont Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • PLNU
  • Belmont
  • ACT Range
  • PLNU 25/32
  • Belmont 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • Belmont 1160/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PLNU Test optional
  • Belmont Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027
  • Belmont Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PLNU 13:1
  • Belmont 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PLNU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Belmont
    • Visual and Performing Arts (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)
    • Communications Technology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PLNU 72%
  • Belmont 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PLNU $53,500
  • Belmont $49,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PLNU 79%
  • Belmont 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PLNU $25,000
  • Belmont $21,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PLNU $258
  • Belmont $225

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PLNU 33%
  • Belmont 34%
  • % Women
  • PLNU 67%
  • Belmont 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PLNU High
  • Belmont Very Low
  • HBCU
  • PLNU No
  • Belmont No
  • % White
  • PLNU 59%
  • Belmont 80%
  • % Asian
  • PLNU 5%
  • Belmont 2%
  • % Black
  • PLNU 2%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • PLNU 23%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Native American
  • PLNU 1%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PLNU 1%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PLNU 7%
  • Belmont 4%
  • % International
  • PLNU 1%
  • Belmont 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PLNU 2%
  • Belmont 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PLNU 72%
  • Belmont 35%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PLNU 26%
  • Belmont 64%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • PLNU Yes
  • Belmont Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • PLNU No
  • Belmont No
  • Meal Plan
  • PLNU Yes
  • Belmont Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • PLNU No
  • Belmont No
  • Daycare Facility
  • PLNU No
  • Belmont No

Comparable Facts

Compare Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA with Belmont University in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Belmont University is larger than PLNU based on total student enrollment (8,803 students vs. 4,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Belmont University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Belmont University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1; Belmont University 12:1.

PLNU vs. Belmont Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Belmont? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Belmont University than PLNU ($38,578 vs. $39,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 9.1% lower than at Belmont University ($13,650 vs. $15,010).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Belmont (about $3,710 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $42,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at PLNU than at Belmont University (about $3,710 more per year; $46,250.00 vs. $42,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than at Belmont University (94% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Belmont University students is 15.9% larger than aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students ($23,992 vs. $20,702).

PLNU vs. Belmont Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or Belmont? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Belmont and PLNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Point Loma Nazarene University (1270) is 10 points higher than at Belmont (1260).
  • Incoming PLNU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Belmont).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365; Belmont University 1160/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32; Belmont University 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PLNU - Test optional; Belmont - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PLNU Feb 15, 2027; Belmont Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Belmont students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at PLNU (3.65).
  • Belmont has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than PLNU (83.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at PLNU vs. 17.7% at Belmont.

PLNU vs. Belmont Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PLNU and Belmont? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Point Loma Nazarene University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Belmont University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Belmont graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $49,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Belmont University graduates have a $3,220 lower median loan debt than PLNU graduates ($21,780 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Belmont graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PLNU graduates ($225 vs. $258).
  • More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Belmont students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.