PennWest California vs. Carlow University

Should I go to PennWest California or Carlow University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PennWest California or Carlow University 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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PennWest California vs. Carlow University comparison
PennWest California Carlow University College 3 College 4
PennWest California Carlow University
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Overview

PennWest California Carlow University
Location California, PA Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Town Fringe Large City
Enrollment 6,509 2,104
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #752
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu carlow.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California Carlow University
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $32,402
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $32,402
Room & Board $10,416 $13,014
Avg Net Price - $17,437
Avg Grant Aid $0 $26,713
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 99%

Admission

PennWest California Carlow University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,124
Admitted - 1,042
Acceptance Rate 92.7%
Enrolled % 19.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 940/1150 850/1100
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

PennWest California Carlow University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Education (24%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

PennWest California Carlow University
Graduation Rate 53% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $41,900
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

PennWest California Carlow University
% Men 39% 14%
% Women 61% 86%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 77% 61%
% Black 12% 22%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

PennWest California Carlow University
% In-State 86% 88%
% Out-of-State 13% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Carlow University based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 2,104 students)

PennWest California vs. Carlow University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Carlow University?

  • Carlow University is 319.9% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($32,402.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 180% higher at Carlow University than PennWest California ($32,402.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 24.9% lower than costs at Carlow University ($10,416 vs. $13,014)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carlow University than PennWest California (99% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carlow University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($26,713 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Carlow University (972) is 50 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming Carlow University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman Carlow University students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

PennWest California vs. Carlow University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California or Carlow University? 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 Carlow University and PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Carlow University (53% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $600 more per year than Carlow University graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $41,900)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Carlow University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Carlow University graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carlow University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 59%)

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