PennWest California vs. Gannon University

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

PennWest California Gannon University
Location California, PA Erie, PA
Setting Town Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 6,509 4,665
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #451
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu gannon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California Gannon University
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $35,620
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $35,620
Room & Board $10,416 $15,410
Avg Net Price - $22,200
Avg Grant Aid $0 $26,172
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 100%

Admission

PennWest California Gannon University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 6,678
Admitted - 5,399
Acceptance Rate 80.8%
Enrolled % 11.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 20/28
SAT Range 940/1150 990/1250
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

PennWest California Gannon University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

PennWest California Gannon University
Graduation Rate 53% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $52,900
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

PennWest California Gannon University
% Men 39% 43%
% Women 61% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 76%
% Black 12% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 9%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

PennWest California Gannon University
% In-State 86% 54%
% Out-of-State 13% 26%

Campus

PennWest California Gannon 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 Gannon University based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 4,665 students)

PennWest California vs. Gannon University Cost Comparison

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

  • Gannon University is 361.6% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($35,620.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 207.8% higher at Gannon University than PennWest California ($35,620.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 47.9% lower than costs at Gannon University ($10,416 vs. $15,410)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gannon University than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gannon University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($26,172 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Gannon University (1035) is 113 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming Gannon University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman Gannon University students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

PennWest California vs. Gannon University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California or Gannon 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 Gannon University and PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at Gannon University is higher than PennWest California (66% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Gannon University earn on average $10,400 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($52,900 vs. $42,500)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Gannon University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Gannon University graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Gannon University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PennWest California students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 64%)

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