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Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus WVSU WVU PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Marshall University Penn State Schuylkill Robert Morris University Concord University Frostburg State University Millersville University of Pennsylvania GCU| PennWest California | Fairmont State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PennWest California | Fairmont State | ||
| Location | California, PA | Fairmont, WV | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 3,498 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | #979 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | fairmontstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | Fairmont State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $6,022 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $15,638 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $10,022 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $10,794 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $6,547 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 94% |
Admission |
PennWest California | Fairmont State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 1,926 | ||
| Admitted | - | 1,897 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 98.5% | |||
| Enrolled % | 37% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.36 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 18/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | 820/1050 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | Fairmont State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | Fairmont State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $37,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 43% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $227 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | Fairmont State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
PennWest California | Fairmont State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 11% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | Fairmont State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | Yes | ||
| 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 Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 3,498 students)
PennWest California vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Fairmont State ?
- PennWest California is 28.1% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $6,022.00)
- Out of state tuition is 35.1% higher at Fairmont State than PennWest California ($15,638.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 3.9% lower than costs at PennWest California ($10,022 vs. $10,416)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Fairmont State University than PennWest California (94% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Fairmont State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($6,547 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or Fairmont State ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fairmont State or PennWest California .
- The average SAT score at Fairmont State University (962) is 40 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
- Incoming Fairmont State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
- Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at PennWest California (3.31)
PennWest California vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California or Fairmont State ? 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 Fairmont State and PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Fairmont State University (53% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $4,900 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $37,600)
- Fairmont State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,000)
- Fairmont State graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 43%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/