Albion College vs. PennWest California

Should I go to Albion College or PennWest California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Albion College or PennWest California is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Albion College vs. PennWest California comparison
Albion College PennWest California College 3 College 4
Albion College PennWest California
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Overview

Albion College PennWest California
Location Albion, MI California, PA
Setting Distant Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 1,456 6,509
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #332 #1033
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website albion.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Albion College PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $54,410 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $54,410 $11,574
Room & Board $12,470 $10,416
Avg Net Price $19,351 -
Avg Grant Aid $47,406 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 0%

Admission

Albion College PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,827 -
Admitted 4,541 -
Acceptance Rate 66.5%
Enrolled % 9.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/27 18/24
SAT Range 930/1160 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

Albion College PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

Albion College PennWest California
Graduation Rate 68% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,600 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,200 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $281 $258

Diversity

Albion College PennWest California
% Men 48% 39%
% Women 52% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 77%
% Black 6% 12%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

Albion College PennWest California
% In-State 67% 86%
% Out-of-State 28% 13%

Campus

Albion College PennWest California
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Albion College based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 1,456 students)

Albion College vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Albion College or PennWest California?

  • Albion College is 605.2% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($54,410.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 370.1% higher at Albion College than PennWest California ($54,410.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 19.7% lower than costs at Albion College ($10,416 vs. $12,470)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Albion College than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Albion College students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($47,406 vs. $0)

Which college is harder to get into, Albion College or PennWest California? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PennWest California or Albion College .

  • The average SAT score at Albion College (1104) is 182 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming Albion College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman Albion College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

Albion College vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Albion College or PennWest California? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PennWest California and Albion College.

  • The graduation rate at Albion College is higher than PennWest California (68% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Albion College earn on average $13,100 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($55,600 vs. $42,500)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $2,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Albion College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,200)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Albion College graduates. ($258 vs. $281)
  • More Albion College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PennWest California students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/