If you are not aware of PLNU and how close it is to the Pacific Ocean, you may want to keep reading. Point Loma Nazarene University extends across a 90-acre beachfront property on the Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego. To answer your question, yes — our students still go to class.
At PLNU, students have the opportunity to live on campus, with 62% of students who opt to live on campus all four years. There are nine different dorms students have the option to live in, depending on the class year, which includes two apartment style housing options. Although each dorm has a unique history and offers a variety of perks, every dorm includes washers and dryers, communal lounge and study spaces, surf board storage, and Residential Life staff providing resources, events, and daily office hours for students to connect with RAs. Furthermore, all co-ed dorms have hallways, pods, or apartments which are separated by gender.
Hendricks Hall
The first of the three freshman dorm halls, as well as the second closest dorm to the beach, is Hendricks Hall. This three-story building features alternating men’s and women’s halls, with a complete renovation made in the summer of 2025. Hendrick Hall offers the unique perks of a beach volleyball court and a half basketball court overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
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Klassen Hall
Klassen Hall shares a similar layout with Hendricks Hall, and is the second option for freshman students. Perched above Hendricks, Klassen overlooks the Pacific and offers a beautiful lawn where students can gather, study, or relax. Like many other dorm halls, Klassen includes a large outdoor barbeque and picnic space making it easy to enjoy a fresh cooked meal with friends.
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Nease Hall
As one of the three options for freshman students, Nease hall is the largest freshman dorm, extending to a total of eight levels. The two westernmost floors, referred to as “New Nease,” are reserved for Sophomore and Junior women. Each floor contains a lounge or a devoted study room, and because the building runs parallel to the coast, almost half of all rooms enjoy a scenic ocean view.
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Young Hall
Possibly the most famous dorm PLNU has to offer is Young Hall. Located just less than 100 yards from Sunset Cliffs and surf, Young houses sophomore and junior students. Matching the coastal setting, Young includes a full beach volleyball and basketball courts, which is often used for pickleball.
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Wiley Hall
Wiley Hall, a co-ed residence hall, sits at the northern edge of campus. With a central courtyard and front and back patio space, Wiley offers plenty of space to enjoy time outside. Inside, students have access to three lounges, a kitchen, and a large surf board storage to provide plenty of space for dorm rooms containing two or three students.
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__________
Who are you called to be?
Pursue your purpose at PLNU.
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Finch Hall
Finch Hall is PLNU’s all-women residence hall and is located on the north side of campus. Mirroring the courtyard layout to Wiley Hall, Finch creates a natural space for community where students can spend time outside with friends, studying, or just enjoy the quiet space in the sun. The two-story building also includes a patio space with barbecues and a lawn.
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Goodwin Hall
Located just west of Finch and Wiley Hall, Goodwin Hall houses first-year transfer students as well as upperclassmen students. This residence hall is made up of two buildings with eight units total and five rooms ranging from singles to triples. Goodwin also provides a large communal space with a TV, kitchen, courtyard, and plenty of lounge space to allow students to feel at home.
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Flex Apartments
The apartment-style housing on PLNU’s main campus are the Flex Apartments. Consisting of nine buildings and 63 apartments, Flex houses five junior or senior students in each unit. Each apartment includes a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and a spacious living room. PLNU provides desks, chairs, closet spaces for each student, and furniture for the shared spaces.
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Colony Apartments
Just about three miles from the main campus, the Colony Apartments are the only PLNU residence hall off the main campus. Colony includes 20 apartments which house up to four junior or senior students each. The facilities feature a communal courtyard space including yard games, chairs, and surfboard storage. The utilities are included in the room and board charges for student housing.
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Find Your Home at PLNU
When it comes to starting your new life in college, it matters where you call home. At PLNU, you can experience college life near the beach with an education preparing you for the next chapter. A whole-person education is the heart of PLNU, meaning you will develop community, learn meaningful academics, and prepare you for a life beyond college.
Reach out to an academic advisor today to take the first step in seeing if PLNU can be your new home.