1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. Point Loma Nazarene University Research brief & institution hub Copy linkPrint brief # Point Loma Nazarene University CA · Medium private nonprofit institution · Overall rank #1060 nationally Data snapshot September 27, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026 Overview[Cost & aid](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/similar/) ## [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Point Loma Nazarene University #1,060 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. ### Who it’s a good fit for Point Loma Nazarene University is a private nonprofit university in San Diego whose degree mix is led by Business and Health Professions. Return is above average, while affordability is below the levels seen at many peers. Graduates out-earn what the model predicts for students like them. The model attributes more of that gain to a remainder it does not explain than to the factors it measures—field of study, enrollment and the local labor market. The price case turns on income: the lowest band pays well below the published cost, and the highest band pays closer to it. Pell students complete at a rate below the overall cohort. The admission rate is above the median for comparable institutions. A student drawn to Nursing or Business should know those are the largest and best-paid programs, while the social sciences and education pay less. ## Point Loma Nazarene University at a glance ### Admissions and outcomes **Admission rate[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)** 83.7% **Six-year completion[\[2\]](#hub-data-note-completion)** 77.2% **Four-year earnings[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)** $72,880 ### Cost and family borrowing **Average annual net price · $48–75K family income[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)** $32,888 **Median student debt[\[4\]](#hub-data-note-student-debt)** $22,990 **Median Parent PLUS debt[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps)** $38,376 ## Point Loma Nazarene University rankings: how Azimuth assesses value[\[5\]](#hub-data-note-rankings) Point Loma Nazarene University is a private nonprofit university in San Diego, California, enrolling 3,188 undergraduates. Its composite standing sits in the lower third of the Azimuth ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions (28th percentile). The strongest pillar is return, and the weakest is affordability, with access and mobility falling between them. The university admits 83.7% of applicants, a rate above the 71.2% median for comparable institutions of the same type and size. Of students who start full time, 85.5% return for a second year, and 77.2% finish within six years. Both figures run above the peer medians of 83.4% and 68.8%. An estimated 37.5% of entrants arrive as transfers or part-time students, so a substantial share of the student body did not start at Point Loma Nazarene University. The four pillars are spread apart, with return the strongest and affordability the weakest. Access and mobility occupy the middle ground between those extremes. The shape is a private university where graduates' earnings outcomes are strong, but the net price is high relative to peers. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Point Loma Nazarene University on four pillars among 1,467 nonprofit four-year institutions. Return is the strongest, at the 74th percentile, while affordability is the weakest, at the 6th percentile. Access sits at the 26th percentile and mobility at the 46th percentile. The middle 50% of submitted SAT scores at Point Loma Nazarene University fell between 1,175 and 1,365. For the ACT, the middle 50% ranged from 25 to 32. 21.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Azimuth ranks the university #1,085 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pell recipients in the first-time, full-time cohort complete at a rate of 68.6%, which is 8.6 percentage points below the overall [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/). For mobility, Azimuth ranks Point Loma Nazarene University #798. Graduates earn about $7,113 more than the model expects for similar students. [How value-added outcomes are assessed](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) · [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Point Loma Nazarene University rankings in context | Geography | Rank | | --- | --- | | National | #1,060 | | [California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/) | #72 | | [West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/) | #146 | Azimuth overall value rankings within each geographic comparison group. ### National pillar percentiles **Economic mobility** National percentile: 46 **Access & reach** National percentile: 26 **[Affordability](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/cost/)** National percentile: 6 **[Return on investment](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/outcomes/)** National percentile: 74 01 / Point Loma Nazarene University briefing ## [Point Loma Nazarene University cost & financial aid](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/cost/)[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps) Point Loma Nazarene University lists a published cost of attendance of $60,488, with tuition and fees at $46,250 and room and board at $13,650. For the average aid recipient, grants and scholarships reduce that sticker by $21,759, leaving an average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) of $38,729. That net price is $11,358 above the $27,371 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). Azimuth ranks the university #1,323 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 36% of the published cost for the average aid recipient. The spread between the lowest and highest income bands is $10,681. The published cost of attendance at Point Loma Nazarene University is $60,488. Azimuth ranks the university #1,323 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. After grants and scholarships, the average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for aid recipients from families earning under $30,000 is $30,999, for those earning $48,001 to $75,000 it is $32,888, and for those earning over $110,000 it is $41,680. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $10,681. Aid covers about 36% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, bringing the average net price across all bands to $38,729. That figure is $11,358 above the $27,371 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). Borrowers who finish carry a median of $22,990 in federal student loans, $1,209 below the peer median of $24,199. 90.9% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. Parents who borrow hold a separate median of $38,376 in [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) loans. If repaid over ten years, the median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $261 a month. Your family income Choose a household income range to see estimated net price. $0–30K$30–48K$48–75K$75–110K$110K+ Reported average annual net price · $48–75K**$32,888** After grants and scholarships. Your aid offer may differ. Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary. ### Borrowing and repayment at Point Loma Nazarene University Among completers who used federal loans at Point Loma Nazarene University, the median debt at completion is $22,990. Federal loans reach 90.9% of federal aid recipients here. The university's median sits below the peer median of $24,199 at comparable institutions (same type and size) by $1,209. Parents who borrow through [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/), a separate population from student borrowers, carry a median debt of $38,376. Graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn about $7,113 more than the model expects for similar students, an outcome in the 77th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The median earnings four years after completion are $72,880, in the 80th percentile nationally, which is $4,630 above the $68,250 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). Earnings scenarios, estimated from the university's program mix, stretch from $46,400 in a downside case to $104,672 in an upside case, with a typical outcome of $72,880. On the borrowing side, the median federal student debt at completion is $22,990, which is $1,209 below the peer median of $24,199. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $261 a month if repaid over ten years. Median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing, a separate parent-borrower population, is $38,376. The estimated monthly student payment if repaid over ten years is $261. [How Financial GPS measures payment burden](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) · [The four risk-and-reward zones](/analysis/4-zones-of-college-risk-and-reward/) Financial GPS ### What does repayment look like? **Institution median student debt** $22,990 **Institution Parent PLUS debt** $38,376 Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included. **Estimated student payment · monthly** $261/mo **Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly** $488/mo Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s. Payment assumptions Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. [Explore your own numbers in Financial GPS](/financial-gps/?tool=student&school=point-loma-nazarene-university#student-tool) [Read the full cost & aid brief](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/cost/) 02 / Point Loma Nazarene University briefing ## [Point Loma Nazarene University career outcomes & earnings](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/outcomes/)[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)[\[8\]](#hub-data-note-scenarios)[\[9\]](#hub-data-note-value-added) Four years after completing a degree, federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $72,880, at the 80th percentile. That is $4,630 above the $68,250 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). Azimuth places the university at the 74th percentile for return among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,113 more than the model expects for similar students. That puts the gap at the 77th percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures adds $1,098. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain adds $6,015. At Point Loma Nazarene University, the median earnings for federally aided graduates four years after completion is $72,880. That is $4,630 above the $68,250 median for comparable institutions (same type and size), placing the university in the 80th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,113 more than the model expects for similar students. The gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students sits at the 77th percentile. Earnings scenarios based on the program mix put the typical outcome at $72,880, with a downside scenario of $46,400 and an upside scenario of $104,672. An estimated 26.2% of graduates continue to graduate study, based on the program mix, so the four-year earnings picture captures most but not all completers. At Point Loma Nazarene University, federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $72,880 four years after completing a degree, in the 80th percentile. The peer median is the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), and the university is $4,630 above that $68,250 figure. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) the university #384 for return among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,113 more than the model expects for similar students. That puts the gap at the 77th percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $1,098. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain adds $6,015. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $367, a small share of the overall attribution. The degrees awarded cluster in health, business, and the social sciences, with nursing and business administration the largest programs. Earnings scenarios, estimated from the program mix rather than observed groups, range from $46,400 to $104,672. An estimated 26.2% of graduates continue to graduate study, based on the program mix. Earnings four years after completion vary widely by field at Point Loma Nazarene University, and the variation reflects the university's program mix. The downside scenario sits at $46,400, while the upside scenario reaches $104,672 — a spread across the university's 10 programs with published earnings data. At the top, Nursing completers earn a median of $114,919, and Business Administration and Management graduates reach $74,495. Further down the range, Biology completers earn $65,365, showing that even the third-highest-earning field lands well above the downside scenario. Graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn about $7,113 more than the model expects for similar students. The median federal student debt for borrowers who complete a degree is $22,990, which runs below the $24,199 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $261 a month if repaid over ten years. Parent PLUS borrowers, a separate population, carry a median of $38,376. The average net price—what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships—is $38,729, which is above the peer median of $27,371 by $11,358. The spread between the lowest and highest income bands is $10,681, with average net prices ranging from $30,999 for families earning under $30,000 to $41,680 for families earning over $110,000. Aid covers about 36% of the published cost for the average aid recipient. Above-expected earnings and a debt figure that sits below the peer median point the same way. The net price runs above the peer median, though, so the value picture depends on how much aid a family receives and which program a student pursues. What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$1,098 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** +$6,015 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** +$7,113 These are statistical model components, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. [Read the full outcomes brief](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/outcomes/) 03 / Point Loma Nazarene University briefing ## [Point Loma Nazarene University acceptance rate & admissions](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/admissions/)[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)[\[10\]](#hub-data-note-sat)[\[11\]](#hub-data-note-retention) Point Loma Nazarene University admits 83.7% of applicants, a rate that sits above the median of 71.2% for comparable institutions (same type and size). SAT: approximate enrolled-student range **Admission rate** 83.7% **Approximate lower endpoint** 1175 **Reported average** 1287 **Approximate upper endpoint** 1365 Enrolled students who submitted scores. This range is not an admission cutoff. The endpoints add section percentiles; they are not verified composite-score percentiles. A separate SAT-equivalent average is not plotted as a median. Source: College Scorecard; sum of section 25th/75th percentiles; enrolled score-submitters. [Read the full admissions brief](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/admissions/) 04 / Point Loma Nazarene University briefing ## [What are the largest majors at Point Loma Nazarene University?](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/majors/)[\[12\]](#hub-data-note-programs) The largest programs at Point Loma Nazarene University show a clear split between higher-earning health and business fields and more moderate-earning human-service fields. Nursing leads both in size and earnings, with 137 degrees awarded and a median of $114,919 four years after completion. Business Administration and Management follows at 115 degrees and a median of $74,495. On the other side, Human Development and Family Studies and Psychology together awarded 95 and 67 degrees, with medians near $46,119 and $46,437 respectively. The contrast shows the range of early-career earnings across fields at the university. The university publishes earnings data for 10 bachelor's programs. The two largest families are Business and Health Professions, which together account for about 20.9% and 20.5% of degrees awarded. Nursing is the largest program, with 137 degrees awarded and a median of $114,919 four years after completion. Business Administration and Management follows with 115 degrees and a median of $74,495. Among the remaining large programs, Human Development and Family Studies awarded 95 degrees and shows a median of $46,119, while Psychology and Teacher Education report medians of $46,437 and $56,198, respectively. Point Loma Nazarene University's bachelor's degrees are concentrated in professional fields, with Business and Health Professions nearly tied as the largest families at 20.9% and 20.5% of degrees awarded, respectively. Family & Consumer Sciences follows at 10.6%. Published four-year earnings data cover 10 programs. The largest single program is Nursing, at 137 degrees awarded, followed by Business Administration and Management at 115 and Human Development and Family Studies at 95. The highest-earning program is also the largest: Nursing graduates earn a median of $114,919 four years after completion, a benchmark ratio of 1.29x against the national median for its field. Business Administration and Management, the second-largest program, is the second-highest-earning at $74,495 with a benchmark ratio of 1.09x. Biology is a smaller program, at 40 degrees awarded, and its graduates earn a median of $65,365, a benchmark ratio of 1.14x. The pattern is concentrated: the two largest programs are also the two best-paid, and both sit above the national median for their fields. The health and business programs that anchor the degree mix post the highest medians, while the social science and education programs, though sizable, show lower earnings. Across all fields, 12.2% of degrees awarded are in STEM. Four-year earnings · six largest reported fields **Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 137 degrees awarded** $114,919 **Business Administration, Management and Operations 115 degrees awarded** $74,495 **Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services 95 degrees awarded** $46,119 **Psychology, General 67 degrees awarded** $46,437 **Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 59 degrees awarded** $56,198 **Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions 42 degrees awarded** $59,654 Fields selected by reported completions. Counts describe credentials awarded, not unique students or the earnings sample. Bars show median four-year earnings. [Read the full majors brief](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/majors/) 05 / Point Loma Nazarene University briefing ## How does Point Loma Nazarene University serve students from different backgrounds? Point Loma Nazarene University's mobility story starts with its graduates' earnings: they earn about $7,113 more than the model expects for similar students, a result that sits in the 77th percentile nationally. Azimuth places the university in the 46th percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) for the first-time full-time cohort is 77.2%. Pell recipients complete at 68.6%, below the overall rate by 8.6 percentage points. The Pell completion rate, though trailing the overall figure, coincides with earnings that clear the model's benchmark by a wide margin. Point Loma Nazarene University, a private nonprofit university in San Diego, enrolls 3,188 undergraduates. The university admits 83.7% of applicants, above the peer median of 71.2% for comparable institutions. An estimated 37.5% of undergraduates enter as transfers or part-time students, and 21.4% receive Pell Grants, a measure of financial access. Azimuth places the access pillar in the 26th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The admission rate, transfer-in estimate, and Pell share together describe the university's undergraduate entry points. 06 / Point Loma Nazarene University briefing ## [What colleges are similar to Point Loma Nazarene University?](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/similar/)[\[15\]](#hub-data-note-peers) Azimuth groups alternatives by admissions, location, cost and earnings, then orders candidates within each group. Peer earnings use the matched four-year cohort. [How matching works](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/similar/#peer-matching). ### A shortlist for different decisions Choose a row to compare the figures with Point Loma Nazarene University. Admissions peerUniversity of Redlands82.7% admitted+ Comparison with Point Loma Nazarene University | Measure | Point Loma Nazarene University | University of Redlands | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $72,880 | $75,863+$2,983 vs Point Loma Nazarene University | | Average annual net price | $38,729 | $30,031\-$8,698 vs Point Loma Nazarene University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 83.7% | 82.7% | [Explore University of Redlands →](/school/university-of-redlands/) Higher-admission alternativeCalifornia State University-San Marcos95.1% admitted+ Comparison with Point Loma Nazarene University | Measure | Point Loma Nazarene University | California State University-San Marcos | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $72,880 | $67,891\-$4,989 vs Point Loma Nazarene University | | Average annual net price | $38,729 | $10,229\-$28,500 vs Point Loma Nazarene University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 83.7% | 95.1% | [Explore California State University-San Marcos →](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/) Nearby alternativeChapman UniversityNearby option · CA+ Comparison with Point Loma Nazarene University | Measure | Point Loma Nazarene University | Chapman University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $72,880 | $73,336+$456 vs Point Loma Nazarene University | | Average annual net price | $38,729 | $46,555+$7,826 vs Point Loma Nazarene University · higher cost | | Admission rate | 83.7% | 65.4% | [Explore Chapman University →](/school/chapman-university/) Higher-earnings alternativeDrexel University$91,041 earnings+ Comparison with Point Loma Nazarene University | Measure | Point Loma Nazarene University | Drexel University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $72,880 | $91,041+$18,161 vs Point Loma Nazarene University | | Average annual net price | $38,729 | $38,509\-$220 vs Point Loma Nazarene University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 83.7% | 79.4% | [Explore Drexel University →](/school/drexel-university/) Lower-cost alternativeCalifornia State University-Fullerton$6,555 average net price+ Comparison with Point Loma Nazarene University | Measure | Point Loma Nazarene University | California State University-Fullerton | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $72,880 | $63,753\-$9,127 vs Point Loma Nazarene University | | Average annual net price | $38,729 | $6,555\-$32,174 vs Point Loma Nazarene University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 83.7% | 90.5% | [Explore California State University-Fullerton →](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/) Similar profileAzusa Pacific UniversityMatched across several measures+ Comparison with Point Loma Nazarene University | Measure | Point Loma Nazarene University | Azusa Pacific University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $72,880 | $71,925\-$955 vs Point Loma Nazarene University | | Average annual net price | $38,729 | $22,212\-$16,517 vs Point Loma Nazarene University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 83.7% | 88.4% | [Explore Azusa Pacific University →](/school/azusa-pacific-university/) Each school is the first-ranked match in its category, not a recommendation across every measure. The same college may lead more than one category. Figures use the matching snapshot; earnings reflect the matched four-year cohort. — means unavailable. [Read the full similar schools brief](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/similar/) ## Data scope & methodology Structured payloads generated September 27, 2026 · Governed hub narrative September 27, 2026 · Governed spoke corpus September 27, 2026 Four-year earnings describe cohorts of completers. Figures for other horizons describe different cohorts and are not joined into a career-growth projection. Azimuth's overall rank and pillar percentiles come from the school profile. Absolute pillar ranks, city, enrollment and official-site links are shown only when structured data supplies them. Detailed earnings, cost, admissions and program values come from the endpoint responsible for each measure. Missing values are not replaced with zero. Value-added estimates are model associations, not causal effects. Figures are refreshed with each data release, at most a quarter apart. The underlying source dates can be earlier than the release. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. [Read the ranking methodology, data definitions and limitations](/methodology/) · [About College Azimuth](/about/) Read the analysis behind [value-added earnings](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) and the [change to four-year graduate earnings](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/). These articles are published on collegeazimuth.com. ## Data notes & source fields Scorecard field codes identify the underlying measure; Azimuth-derived values are labeled separately. Snapshot dates are not measurement years. Source populations and reporting periods differ across measures. Field definitions are in the [U.S. Department of Education · College Scorecard documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf); notes with a different source link it below. 1. **Admission rate.** Reported applicants admitted; not a transfer-specific or individual admission probability. Source fields: `ADM_RATE` 2. **Six-year completion.** First-time, full-time students completing at the institution within 150% of normal time, typically six years for a bachelor’s degree. Source fields: `C150_4` 3. **Four-year institutional earnings.** Median earnings of graduates in the reported cohort who are working and not enrolled, four years after completion. Source fields: `MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` 4. **Median federal student debt.** Federal student-loan debt among completers in the reported borrowing cohort. Excludes Parent PLUS and is not total debt across all students. Source fields: `GRAD_DEBT_MDN` 5. **National, regional and state ranks; pillar percentiles; major ranks.** Derived scores within the stated eligible comparison set, not raw Scorecard fields. Major ranks compare institutions within a field; their denominators differ. Source fields: `Azimuth rankings` [College Azimuth · Ranking methodology](/methodology/) 6. **Annual net price by family income.** Average annual cost after grants and scholarships for the eligible first-time, full-time aid-recipient cohort. Public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. Includes living costs; these are averages, not medians or individual offers. Source fields: `NPT4_PUB/PRIV; NPT41_PUB/PRIV through NPT45_PUB/PRIV` 7. **Parent PLUS debt, payments and GPS illustration.** Stored payments use Financial GPS loan and repayment assumptions. The adjustable spectrum applies the published framework to annual student payments divided by earnings minus an expense allowance; its initial allowance is 150% of the federal poverty guideline for one person, for the year the API serves. It is an illustration rather than a school rating. The parent table is the 10-year payment on the median Parent PLUS as a share of household income above 200% of the guideline for a household of three: under 6% Safe, 6–10% Caution, over 10% High pressure. Parent PLUS uses the completer median where available, otherwise the all-borrower median; these describe different borrowing populations. Source fields: `PLUS_DEBT_ALL_COMP_MD; fallback PLUS_DEBT_ALL_MD; Azimuth Financial GPS calculations` [College Azimuth · Financial GPS methodology](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) 8. **Downside and upside earnings; yellow band.** The band spans the modeled lower and higher scenarios. It is not the P25–P75 interval for individual graduates. The median marker is the separately reported institutional median. Source fields: `Azimuth modeled program-mix scenarios` [College Azimuth · Earnings scenario methodology](/analysis/median-roi-hides-a-harsh-reality/) 9. **Value added and its components.** Observed-factor attribution plus the unexplained remainder equals total modeled value added. These are associations, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. Source fields: `Azimuth statistical model` [College Azimuth · Value-added methodology](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) 10. **SAT score range and reported midpoint.** Reported scores of enrolled score-submitters, not admission cutoffs. The midpoint field is not necessarily the middle of the displayed range. Source fields: `SATVR25 + SATMT25; SATVR75 + SATMT75; SAT_AVG` 11. **First-year retention.** Retention of the reported full-time cohort at four-year institutions. Source fields: `RET_FT4` 12. **Program earnings, completion counts and major-mix dots.** Included bachelor’s programs have at least five reported completions. Counts are aggregated credentials, not unique people or an earnings sample. Major-mix dots group those counts by field of study; excluded programs are not zero activity. Source fields: `EARN_MDN_4YR; IPEDSCOUNT1; CIPCODE` [College Scorecard · Field-of-study technical documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/assets/FieldOfStudyDataDocumentation.pdf) 13. **Pell recipients.** Share of undergraduates receiving a Pell Grant in the reported academic year. Source fields: `PCTPELL` 14. **Entering students outside the first-time, full-time group.** This is not an observed transfer-in rate. It includes part-time entrants and other entering-student attendance patterns. Source fields: `1 − PFTFTUG1_EF` 15. **Peer earnings and signed differences.** Differences are peer minus this school, from the same matching snapshot. A positive earnings difference does not mean the peer is better on every measure. Source fields: `Azimuth peer model using MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` [College Azimuth · Comparison methodology](/methodology/) [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)