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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 Frostburg State University South Dakota State University Millersville University of Pennsylvania GCU Fairmont State Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania| PennWest California | Northern State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
| Location | California, PA | Aberdeen, SD | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 3,344 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | #820 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | northern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $7,616 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $10,718 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $9,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $17,264 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $5,715 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 91% |
Admission |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 1,322 | ||
| Admitted | - | 1,033 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.1% | |||
| Enrolled % | 28.9% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | 800/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $37,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $24,399 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $252 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 30% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | NSU | ||
| 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
- PennWest California is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 3,344 students)
PennWest California vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or NSU?
- PennWest California is 1.3% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8% higher at PennWest California than Northern State University ($11,574.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 13.8% lower than costs at PennWest California ($9,150 vs. $10,416)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern State University than PennWest California (91% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($5,715 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 Northern State University (1024) is 102 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
- Incoming NSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at PennWest California (20)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at PennWest California (3.31)
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 Northern State University (53% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $5,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $37,400)
- Northern State University students graduate with a $601 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($24,399 vs. $25,000)
- NSU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($252 vs. $258)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/