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Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Penn State Schuylkill Robert Morris University Concord University Frostburg State University University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg Millersville University of Pennsylvania GCU Fairmont State Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania| PennWest California | Chatham University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PennWest California | Chatham | ||
| Location | California, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 2,387 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | #288 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | chatham.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | Chatham | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $40,625 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $40,625 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $12,719 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $28,322 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $27,330 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 100% |
Admission |
PennWest California | Chatham | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 3,514 | ||
| Admitted | - | 2,331 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 66.3% | |||
| Enrolled % | 13.1% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.86 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 21/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | 1060/1270 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | Chatham | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | Chatham | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $211 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | Chatham | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 25% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 75% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
PennWest California | Chatham | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 26% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | Chatham | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- PennWest California is larger than than Chatham based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 2,387 students)
PennWest California vs. Chatham Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Chatham?
- Chatham University is 426.5% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($40,625.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 251% higher at Chatham than PennWest California ($40,625.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 22.1% lower than costs at Chatham University ($10,416 vs. $12,719)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Chatham University than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($27,330 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or Chatham? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Chatham or PennWest California .
- Accepted freshman Chatham students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at PennWest California (3.31)
PennWest California vs. Chatham Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California or Chatham? 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 Chatham and PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at Chatham is higher than PennWest California (60% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $5,800 more per year than Chatham graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $36,700)
- Chatham University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
- Chatham graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chatham students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 62%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/