Head-to-head comparison
Chapman University vs Point Loma Nazarene University: which has better ROI?
Option A Orange, CA
Chapman University
- Net price / year
- $46,555
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,070
- Payback
- 8.6 yrs
Option B San Diego, CA
Point Loma Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $38,729
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,998
- Payback
- 9.9 yrs
Chapman University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $186,220 in 8.6 years versus 9.9 years at Point Loma Nazarene University, on median earnings of $70,070 vs $63,998 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chapman University | Point Loma Nazarene University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $46,555 | $38,729 |
| Total net cost | $186,220 | $154,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,070 | $63,998 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $22,990 |
| Payback | 8.6 yrs | 9.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $247,980 | $157,844 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Chapman University or Point Loma Nazarene University?
Point Loma Nazarene University, at $38,729 a year after aid versus $46,555 — a gap of $7,826 a year, or $31,304 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Chapman University or Point Loma Nazarene University graduates earn more?
Chapman University graduates report a median $70,070 ten years after entry, $6,072 more than the $63,998 at Point Loma Nazarene University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Chapman University or Point Loma Nazarene University?
Chapman University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $22,990 at Point Loma Nazarene University, a difference of $2,490. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
82% of students finish at Chapman University, against 77% at Point Loma Nazarene University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.