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VSU Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Old Dominion Hampton University Bowie State University PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ECSU Delaware State University Penn State Schuylkill Fayetteville State University Robert Morris University| PennWest California | Norfolk State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
| Location | California, PA | Norfolk, VA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 5,783 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | #1008 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | nsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $5,752 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $16,920 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $10,844 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $14,652 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $12,164 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 91% |
Admission |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 8,884 | ||
| Admitted | - | 7,951 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.5% | |||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 15/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | 840/1040 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 | May 31, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 27% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $31,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $320 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 77% | 5% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 84% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 3% |
Students |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 31% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- PennWest California is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 5,783 students)
PennWest California vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or NSU?
- PennWest California is 34.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $5,752.00)
- Out of state tuition is 46.2% higher at NSU than PennWest California ($16,920.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 4.1% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($10,416 vs. $10,844)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than PennWest California (91% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($12,164 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or PennWest California .
- The average SAT score at PennWest California (922) is 114 points higher than at NSU (808)
- Incoming PennWest California students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at NSU (17)
- Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at NSU (2.9)
PennWest California vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California or NSU? 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 NSU and PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Norfolk State University (53% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $5,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $36,700)
- PennWest California students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
- PennWest California graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($258 vs. $320)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 27%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/