PLNU was founded in Los Angeles in 1902 by Dr. Phineas Bresee, who was also the founder of the Church of the Nazarene. Originally named Pacific Bible College, its purpose was to prepare women and men for service as ministers and missionaries.
In 1910, the school relocated to Pasadena where it was known for most of the next 60 years as Pasadena College. Over those years, it grew into a reputable small Christian college due to the sacrificial leadership of administrators, faculty and staff, as well as committed Nazarene constituents. In 1973, under the leadership of President Shelburne Brown, the university moved to Point Loma in San Diego and was eventually renamed Point Loma Nazarene University. Today, PLNU is a thriving university on five campuses with academic programs offered in multiple modalities.