AccessibleReviewed for the 2025-2026 cycle

Point Loma Nazarene University acceptance rate and admissions profile

Point Loma Nazarene University is a private college in California that admits most qualified applicants (around 84%), which puts it in the accessible range. A rate like this means it admits most qualified applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what Point Loma Nazarene University weighs, where it ranks among California schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1290, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
84%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1290
of admitted students
Type
Private
California
Selectivity in state
#37
of 61 in CA
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Will I get into Point Loma Nazarene University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Point Loma Nazarene University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Point Loma Nazarene University?

At Point Loma Nazarene University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 84% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Point Loma Nazarene University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Point Loma Nazarene University hard to get into?

Point Loma Nazarene University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 84% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Point Loma Nazarene University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Point Loma Nazarene University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Point Loma Nazarene University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Point Loma Nazarene University?

Point Loma Nazarene University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1290. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Point Loma Nazarene University.

Calculate your chances at Point Loma Nazarene University

What Point Loma Nazarene University looks for

What Point Loma Nazarene University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Point Loma Nazarene University signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Point Loma Nazarene University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Point Loma Nazarene University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Point Loma Nazarene University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1300 SAT →Colleges for a 27 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Point Loma Nazarene University compares in California

Point Loma Nazarene University ranks #37 most selective of 61 schools in California in our database.

Among the 61 California schools we track, Point Loma Nazarene University ranks #37 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like California Institute of Technology (3%) and Stanford University (4%) sit nearby, which makes California a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

California Institute of Technology
3%acceptance · CA
Stanford University
4%acceptance · CA
Pomona College
7%acceptance · CA
UCLA
9%acceptance · CA
University of Southern California
10%acceptance · CA
Claremont McKenna College
10%acceptance · CA
University of California, Berkeley
11%acceptance · CA
UC San Diego
27%acceptance · CA
See all California schools →

Similar to Point Loma Nazarene University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Point Loma Nazarene University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Duquesne University, Houston Christian University, and Dominican University (CA). Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Duquesne University
84%acceptance · PA
Houston Christian University
84%acceptance · TX
Dominican University (CA)
84%acceptance · CA
Emory & Henry University
84%acceptance · VA
Hanover College
84%acceptance · IN
Lebanon Valley College
84%acceptance · PA

Frequently asked questions

What does Point Loma Nazarene University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Point Loma Nazarene University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Point Loma Nazarene University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Point Loma Nazarene University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Point Loma Nazarene University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Point Loma Nazarene University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Point Loma Nazarene University?

Point Loma Nazarene University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.