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EWU Washington State Western Washington University Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus UW-Seattle PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania UWB UWT Portland State University Penn State Schuylkill Robert Morris University| PennWest California | Central Washington University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PennWest California | Central Washington University | ||
| Location | California, PA | Ellensburg, WA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 9,257 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | #610 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | cwu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | Central Washington University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $6,816 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $23,881 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $13,645 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $15,864 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $9,294 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 73% |
Admission |
PennWest California | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 6,409 | ||
| Admitted | - | 5,992 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 93.5% | |||
| Enrolled % | 23.5% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.08 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | 930/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | Central Washington University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | Central Washington University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $47,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,737 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $214 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 7% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 9% |
Students |
PennWest California | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 5% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | Central Washington University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Central Washington University is larger than than PennWest California based on total student enrollment (9,257 students vs. 6,509 students)
PennWest California vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Central Washington University?
- PennWest California is 13.2% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $6,816.00)
- Out of state tuition is 106.3% higher at Central Washington University than PennWest California ($23,881.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 31% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($10,416 vs. $13,645)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Central Washington University than PennWest California (73% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($9,294 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or Central Washington University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central Washington University or PennWest California .
- The average SAT score at Central Washington University (978) is 56 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
- Incoming Central Washington University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
- Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
PennWest California vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California or Central Washington 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 Central Washington University and PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at Central Washington University is higher than PennWest California (56% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $5,300 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $42,500)
- Central Washington University students graduate with a $4,263 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($20,737 vs. $25,000)
- Central Washington University graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($214 vs. $258)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Washington University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/