UCSB vs. PLNU

Should I go to University of California Santa Barbara or Point Loma Nazarene University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UCSB or PLNU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of California Santa Barbara vs. Point Loma Nazarene University comparison
University of California Santa Barbara Point Loma Nazarene University College 3 College 4
University of California Santa Barbara Point Loma Nazarene University
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Overview

 UCSB PLNU
Location Santa Barbara, CA San Diego, CA
Setting Midsize Suburban Large City
Enrollment 26,420 4,319
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #109 #292
Religious Affiliation - Church of the Nazarene - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucsb.edu pointloma.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UCSB PLNU
Tuition (In State) $11,564 $40,400
Tuition (Out of State) $41,636 $40,400
Room & Board $16,883 $11,800
Avg Net Price $16,874 $34,933
Avg Grant Aid $20,389 $19,422
% Receiving Grant Aid 53% 100%

Admission

 UCSB PLNU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 110,995 3,149
Admitted 28,688 2,580
Acceptance Rate 25.8% 81.9%
Enrolled % 17.3% 26.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 28/34 22/30
SAT Range 1230/1460 1170/1350
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023 Feb 15, 2024

Academics

 UCSB PLNU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 UCSB PLNU
Graduation Rate 80% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,000 $53,500
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,451 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $170 $258

Diversity

 UCSB PLNU
% Men 45% 34%
% Women 55% 66%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 35% 59%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 26% 23%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 8% 7%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 UCSB PLNU
% In-State 78% 70%
% Out-of-State 10% 29%

Campus

 UCSB PLNU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of California Santa Barbara is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (26,420 students vs. 4,319 students)

UCSB vs. PLNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or PLNU?

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is 249.4% more expensive to attend than UCSB for in-state tuition ($40,400.00 vs. $11,564.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.1% higher at UCSB 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 Santa Barbara than PLNU ($16,874 vs. $34,933)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 43.1% lower than costs at University of California Santa Barbara ($11,800 vs. $16,883)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than University of California Santa Barbara (100% vs. 53%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 5% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($20,389 vs. $19,422)

UCSB vs. PLNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or PLNU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLNU or UCSB .

  • The average SAT score at University of California Santa Barbara (1248) is 100 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
  • Incoming UCSB students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at PLNU (26)
  • Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at PLNU (3.65)
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than UCSB (25.8%)

UCSB vs. PLNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UCSB or PLNU? 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 PLNU and UCSB.

  • The graduation rate at UCSB is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (80% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn on average $5,500 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $53,500)
  • University of California Santa Barbara students graduate with a $8,549 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($16,451 vs. $25,000)
  • UCSB graduates are paying $88 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($170 vs. $258)
  • More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/