Point Loma lists four higher education entries anchored by Point Loma Nazarene University, a private Christian university on the south peninsula known for nursing, biology, and education programs, plus High Tech High Graduate School of Education training project-based teachers on the bay side of the peninsula in 92106.
2600 Laning Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
+1 619-849-7809
Verified3900 Lomaland Dr, San Diego, CA 92106
+1 619-849-2200
Verified2150 Cushing Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
+1 619-768-2752
Verified2590 Truxtun Rd building 176 suite 102, San Diego, CA 92106
+1 619-849-2306
VerifiedPoint Loma Nazarene University is a private Christian university on the southern tip of the peninsula, known for its oceanfront campus, small class sizes, and programs in nursing, biology, business, and education. The campus sits on Lomaland Drive with views stretching from the Pacific across San Diego Bay to Coronado, and the setting is a major draw for prospective students touring Southern California schools.
PLNU enrolls roughly 3,500 students across undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs. The university is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene and integrates faith into its academic mission, though students of all backgrounds attend. Athletics compete at the NCAA Division II level in the PacWest Conference, and the campus hosts community events including lectures, concerts, and art exhibits open to the public.
PLNU's admissions are moderately selective, with the university typically admitting between 60 and 75 percent of applicants depending on the year and program. The admissions office weighs GPA, standardized test scores (when submitted), extracurricular involvement, and a personal faith statement as part of the application review.
Nursing and biology programs tend to be the most competitive due to clinical placement limits, while other majors accept a higher percentage of qualified applicants. Transfer students from San Diego's community colleges make up a meaningful share of each incoming class, and PLNU maintains articulation agreements that map community college coursework to university degree requirements.
Full-time undergraduate tuition at PLNU runs in the range typical of private universities in Southern California, generally above $40,000 per year before financial aid. Room and board, fees, and books push the total cost of attendance higher. The university's financial aid office reports that most students receive some form of scholarship, grant, or institutional aid that reduces the out-of-pocket cost below the sticker price.
Veterans and active-duty military can apply GI Bill benefits toward PLNU tuition, and the university participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can cover costs beyond the standard GI Bill cap. Students looking to reduce costs often complete general education courses at San Diego City College or Mesa College before transferring—the drive from Point Loma to Downtown campuses runs about 10 minutes via Harbor Drive. PLNU's adult degree-completion and graduate programs price tuition per unit rather than as a flat annual rate, which gives working students more control over semester-by-semester costs.
Yes. PLNU is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene and identifies as a Christian university. Students attend chapel services, and the curriculum integrates faith perspectives across disciplines. The university maintains community lifestyle expectations that include restrictions on alcohol and substance use on campus.
That said, PLNU enrolls students from a range of faith backgrounds, and the academic programs—particularly nursing, biology, and business—are accredited through the same bodies as secular universities. Prospective students who are not part of the Nazarene tradition should review the university's community standards to understand how the faith commitment shapes daily campus life.
Nursing is PLNU's highest-profile program, with graduates placing into clinical roles at hospitals and healthcare systems across San Diego County, including Sharp, Scripps, and Kaiser facilities. The biology program feeds pre-med and pre-dental students into graduate and professional schools, and the School of Education trains teachers who staff San Diego Unified and surrounding districts.
The business and management programs have grown in recent years, and PLNU's MBA program serves working professionals across the region. On the creative side, the university's Department of Art and Design operates an off-campus studio in Point Loma that extends the campus footprint into the broader peninsula community.
High Tech High Graduate School of Education is a small, specialized graduate program that trains teachers in project-based learning methodology. The school operates from the same campus as the High Tech High charter network near the bay, and its graduates often teach within the HTH system or carry the project-based approach to other schools around the country.
The program awards a Master of Education degree and a California teaching credential, making it both an academic program and a professional licensure pathway. Class sizes are deliberately small, and the clinical training model places students in HTH classrooms from the start of the program rather than saving field experience for the final semester.
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