PennWest California vs. RU

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

PennWest California RU
Location California, PA Radford, VA
Setting Town Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 6,509 7,718
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #566
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California RU
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $20,246
Room & Board $10,416 $10,567
Avg Net Price - $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $0 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 96%

Admission

PennWest California RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 11,442
Admitted - 10,680
Acceptance Rate 93.3%
Enrolled % 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/23
SAT Range 940/1150 960/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

PennWest California RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

PennWest California RU
Graduation Rate 53% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $237

Diversity

PennWest California RU
% Men 39% 33%
% Women 61% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 71%
% Black 12% 13%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

PennWest California RU
% In-State 86% 89%
% Out-of-State 13% 11%

Campus

PennWest California RU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Radford University is larger than than PennWest California based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 6,509 students)

PennWest California vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or RU?

  • Radford University is 5.7% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 74.9% higher at RU than PennWest California ($20,246.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 1.4% lower than costs at Radford University ($10,416 vs. $10,567)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than PennWest California (96% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($9,733 vs. $0)

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

  • Accepted freshman PennWest California students have at the same average high school GPA (3.31) as students at RU (3.31)

PennWest California vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California or RU? 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 RU and PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than PennWest California (56% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $4,900 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $42,500)
  • Radford University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,000)
  • RU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($237 vs. $258)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PennWest California students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 64%)

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