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Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Middle Tennessee State University WCU Tennessee PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Austin Peay State University ECU KSU Tennessee Tech Milligan College Penn State Schuylkill| PennWest California | East Tennessee State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PennWest California | ETSU | ||
| Location | California, PA | Johnson City, TN | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 13,483 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | #652 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | etsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | ETSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $7,722 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $11,532 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $9,613 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $14,350 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $8,739 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 100% |
Admission |
PennWest California | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 9,609 | ||
| Admitted | - | 8,193 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.3% | |||
| Enrolled % | 25.1% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | 980/1190 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | ETSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | ETSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $40,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $211 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
PennWest California | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 23% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | ETSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- East Tennessee State University is larger than than PennWest California based on total student enrollment (13,483 students vs. 6,509 students)
PennWest California vs. ETSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or ETSU?
- East Tennessee State University is 0.1% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($7,722.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.4% higher at PennWest California than East Tennessee State University ($11,574.00 vs. $11,532.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 8.4% lower than costs at PennWest California ($9,613 vs. $10,416)
- More students receive financial grant aid at East Tennessee State University than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by East Tennessee State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($8,739 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or ETSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ETSU or PennWest California .
- The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 146 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
- Incoming ETSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at PennWest California (20)
- Accepted freshman ETSU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at PennWest California (3.31)
PennWest California vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California or ETSU? 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 ETSU and PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than East Tennessee State University (53% vs. 44%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $2,500 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $40,000)
- East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
- ETSU 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 ETSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/