Pacific Union College

PUC offers 60+ undergraduate majors and three master’s programs, with nursing as the most popular major. A 11:1 student-faculty ratio enables close mentorship, particularly in STEM fields like biochemistry (highlighted in a student success story). The college’s health science programs dominate enrollment, and its catalog touts a Christ-integrated curriculum emphasizing 'intellectual curiosity and critical thinking.'

• Top Major: Nursing (US News)
• Student-Faculty Ratio: 11:1 (US News)
• Notable Programs: Health sciences, biochemistry (Wikipedia, PUC News)
• Academic Vibe: Faith-integrated, collaborative (PUC Academics page)

Life at PUC revolves around its substance-free, residential campus—all students under 22 must live on campus unless granted an exception. With 963 undergraduates, the vibe is intimate and outdoorsy, leveraging its Napa Valley location for hiking and vineyard-adjacent serenity. Spiritual life is woven into daily routines, from worship to student-led ministries. Athletics and clubs fill the social calendar, though Niche notes the absence of Greek life or party culture.

• Enrollment: 963 (fall 2024, US News)
• Residency Requirement: Under-22s must live on campus (PUC 'Good to Know')
• Notable Perks: Proximity to Napa outdoors, faith-based activities (YouTube, PUC Life page)
• No-Go’s: Alcohol, Greek life (Niche)

PUC’s 51% graduation rate lags behind national averages, but its nursing program boasts an 88.6% retention rate and strong NCLEX pass rates. PayScale ranks PUC third for associate degree salary potential ($97,000 median), though federal data suggests mixed ROI for bachelor’s grads. Alumni often enter healthcare, buoyed by the college’s Adventist hospital network connections.

• Graduation Rate: 51% (Research.com)
• Nursing Retention: 88.6% (AllNurses)
• Salary Standout: $97k median for associate grads (PUC News)
• Weakness: Low overall completion rates (College Scorecard)

At $49,550 sticker price, PUC offsets costs with generous institutional aid—averaging $21,640 per student—bringing the net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to $22,799 for many. Federal and state grants add another layer, with Pell recipients typically getting $5,478. The college actively promotes its net price calculator to demystify costs.

• Sticker Price: $49,550 (CollegeData)
• Avg. Institutional Aid: $21,640 (Niche)
• Net Price: $22,799 (BigFuture)
• Tool: Net price calculator (PUC Blog)

PUC carves a niche as a faith-forward oasis in wine country, where nursing students train near world-class vineyards and biochemistry majors like Tiffany Do (profiled by PUC) thrive via faculty mentorship. Its quirks—mandatory residency, no alcohol, Adventist Sabbath observance—create a cloistered but purposeful community. While graduation rates raise eyebrows, its healthcare pipeline and outlier salary potential for associate degrees hint at hidden strengths.