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Point Loma Nazarene University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · San Diego, CA · 3,188 students

The verdict

Point Loma Nazarene University charges a net price of $38,729/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $154,916. Graduates earn a median $63,998 ten years after entry, $15,638/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 9.9 years — a 20-year net return of $157,844, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Point Loma Nazarene University's 9.9-year payback ranks #788 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 39% of them, and #96 of 334 in California.

Better ROI than 39% of US colleges#788 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$38,729
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$63,998
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
9.9 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
84%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Point Loma Nazarene University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$38,729/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$154,916our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$63,998Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$15,638/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$22,990Scorecard, 2026
Payback9.9 yrsour math
20-year net return$157,844our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Point Loma Nazarene University's own numbers. Net price $38,729 × 4 years = $154,916 total. Median earnings $63,998 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $15,638 a year of premium. $154,916 ÷ $15,638 = 9.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $157,844. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate with?

A median $22,990 in federal loans among completers, or 36% of the $63,998 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Point Loma Nazarene University students graduate?

77% finish their degree. Spread the $154,916 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $201,190 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Point Loma Nazarene University expensive compared with other California colleges?

Its $38,729 net price runs $18,824 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $75,296 more across the full degree.

Point Loma Nazarene University: frequently asked questions

Is Point Loma Nazarene University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Point Loma Nazarene University charges $38,729/yr after aid ($154,916 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $63,998 ten years out — $15,638/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 9.9 years and returns $157,844 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Point Loma Nazarene University degree take to pay off?
About 9.9 years. We divide the $154,916 four-year net cost by the $15,638/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Point Loma Nazarene University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $38,729/yr — about $154,916 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Point Loma Nazarene University compare to other California colleges?
It ranks #96 of 334 California colleges we track by payback. Its $63,998 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $38,729 net price is above the national median of $16,902.