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UC Riverside UCSC CSU UC Davis San Jose State Westmont College Biola University Cal State Fullerton San Diego State Cal Poly USD California State Polytechnic University-Pomona| Point Loma Nazarene University | University of California Merced | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLNU | UC Merced | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Merced, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 4,319 | 9,103 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #292 | #605 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | ucmerced.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | UC Merced | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,400 | $11,564 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,400 | $41,636 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,800 | $19,340 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $34,933 | $13,549 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,422 | $25,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 83% |
Admission |
PLNU | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,149 | 29,920 | ||
| Admitted | 2,580 | 26,766 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.9% | 89.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.7% | 8.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1350 | 960/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2024 | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
PLNU | UC Merced | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLNU | UC Merced | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $19,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $205 |
Diversity |
PLNU | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 34% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 66% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 48% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
PLNU | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 0% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | UC Merced | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Merced is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (9,103 students vs. 4,319 students)
PLNU vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or UC Merced?
- Point Loma Nazarene University is 249.4% more expensive to attend than UC Merced for in-state tuition ($40,400.00 vs. $11,564.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.1% higher at UC Merced than Point Loma Nazarene University ($41,636.00 vs. $40,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than PLNU ($13,549 vs. $34,933)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 63.9% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($11,800 vs. $19,340)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than University of California Merced (100% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 33.2% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($25,868 vs. $19,422)
PLNU vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at Point Loma Nazarene University (1148) is 123 points higher than at UC Merced (1025)
- Incoming PLNU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at UC Merced (23)
- Accepted freshman PLNU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at UC Merced (3.55)
- UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than PLNU (81.9%)
PLNU vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or UC Merced? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC Merced and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at PLNU is higher than University of California Merced (72% vs. 58%)
- University of California Merced students graduate with a $5,101 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($19,899 vs. $25,000)
- UC Merced graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($205 vs. $258)
- More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/