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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 Gannon University Frostburg State University Millersville University of Pennsylvania GCU Fairmont State Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania| PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | ||
| Location | California, PA | Erie, PA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 2,801 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | mercyhurst.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $40,530 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $40,530 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $14,025 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $24,935 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $32,418 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 95% |
Admission |
PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 3,625 | ||
| Admitted | - | 2,920 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.6% | |||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.36 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $43,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,698 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $276 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 1% | ||
| % International | 1% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 4% |
Students |
PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 45% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | Mercyhurst College | ||
| 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 Mercyhurst College based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 2,801 students)
PennWest California vs. Mercyhurst College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Mercyhurst College?
- Mercyhurst College is 425.3% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($40,530.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 250.2% higher at Mercyhurst College than PennWest California ($40,530.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 34.6% lower than costs at Mercyhurst College ($10,416 vs. $14,025)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercyhurst College than PennWest California (95% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercyhurst College students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($32,418 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or Mercyhurst College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercyhurst College or PennWest California .
- Accepted freshman Mercyhurst College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at PennWest California (3.31)
PennWest California vs. Mercyhurst College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California or Mercyhurst College? 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 Mercyhurst College and PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at Mercyhurst College is higher than PennWest California (68% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Mercyhurst College earn on average $1,200 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($43,700 vs. $42,500)
- PennWest California students graduate with a $1,698 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercyhurst College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,698)
- PennWest California graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Mercyhurst College graduates. ($258 vs. $276)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercyhurst College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/