Students at Point Loma Nazarene University achieve significantly stronger earnings than graduates at most other institutions, reflecting the university's focus on career-oriented programs and strong employer connections.
The combination of solid outcomes for both typical and low-income students demonstrates the university's ability to translate its educational investment into meaningful financial returns.
Point Loma Nazarene University stands out as a private Christian institution that delivers exceptional long-term financial outcomes for its graduates. Located in San Diego, this medium-sized university combines faith-based education with strong career preparation, resulting in graduates who earn significantly more than typical college graduates nationwide. The university ranks in the 86th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes, placing it among the top-performing institutions for return on investment.
What makes Point Loma distinctive is its ability to prepare students for high-earning careers despite being a smaller, specialized institution. Graduates earn a median of $63,998 ten years after enrollment, with particularly strong outcomes in nursing, business, and health sciences. The university's location in San Diego provides access to diverse employment opportunities in healthcare, technology, and finance sectors.
As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Point Loma combines solid academic outcomes with moderate access levels. While the university serves fewer low-income students than typical public institutions, it consistently delivers strong graduation rates and career preparation that translate into meaningful long-term financial success for those who attend.
Point Loma Nazarene University's program portfolio centers on health sciences and business fields that consistently deliver strong career outcomes. The Adult Health Nurse/Nursing program stands out as both the largest and highest-earning major, graduating 164 students annually with impressive median earnings of $85,206 ten years out. This nursing program serves as the university's primary economic engine, combining substantial enrollment with exceptional financial returns.
Business and finance programs also perform well, with Banking and Financial Support Services graduates earning around $66,821 despite smaller cohort sizes. These programs benefit from Point Loma's San Diego location, which provides access to diverse financial services employers and networking opportunities throughout Southern California's business community.
The university's program mix reflects its mission-driven approach, balancing high-earning professional fields with service-oriented disciplines. While some programs like Adult Development and Aging show more modest earnings outcomes, they align with Point Loma's Christian mission and prepare graduates for meaningful careers in education, social work, and community service roles that offer personal fulfillment alongside financial stability.
Point Loma Nazarene University graduates achieve strong long-term earnings that place the institution among the top performers nationally. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $63,998, ranking in the 86th percentile compared with other institutions. This performance reflects the university's focus on career-oriented programs and its location in San Diego's robust job market, where graduates can access opportunities across healthcare, business, and technology sectors.
The university's strongest financial outcomes come from its nursing program, which graduates 164 students annually with median earnings of $85,206 ten years out. Banking and Financial Support Services also delivers impressive results, with graduates earning around $66,821 despite smaller program size. These health and business-focused programs drive much of Point Loma's overall earnings advantage, though the university also produces graduates in education and social services fields that typically offer more modest but stable career paths.
Point Loma's San Diego location provides graduates with access to a high cost-of-living region where strong earnings are essential for maintaining purchasing power. The university's emphasis on practical, career-focused education helps ensure that graduates can successfully navigate this competitive job market and achieve financial stability in one of California's most expensive metropolitan areas.
Point Loma Nazarene University represents a significant financial investment, with net prices that reflect its status as a private institution. Low-income families face annual costs around $44,837, while middle-income families pay approximately $49,500, and high-income families see costs near $51,154. These prices place Point Loma in the bottom 1.3% nationally for affordability, meaning it costs substantially more than most other institutions across all income levels.
The university's pricing structure shows relatively modest variation across income bands, indicating that financial aid helps somewhat but doesn't fully bridge the gap between private tuition and public alternatives. Families considering Point Loma should expect to make a substantial upfront investment, whether through savings, borrowing, or a combination of both. The consistent pricing across income levels suggests that the university maintains its private education model rather than deeply discounting for lower-income students.
Despite the high sticker price, many families find Point Loma's investment worthwhile given the strong career outcomes and specialized programs it offers. The university's focus on nursing, business, and other high-return fields helps justify the premium cost for students who successfully complete these programs and enter well-paying careers upon graduation.
Point Loma Nazarene University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
