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Old Dominion Longwood University Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus JMU VSU PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Virginia Tech VCU Mason University of Lynchburg Penn State Schuylkill| PennWest California | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 12:1 | ||
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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/