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Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Penn State Schuylkill RU Robert Morris University Concord University Frostburg State University UVA St. Andrews University Longwood University Millersville University of Pennsylvania| PennWest California | The University of Virginia's College at Wise | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PennWest California | UVa-Wise | ||
| Location | California, PA | Wise, VA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 1,704 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | #750 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | uvawise.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | UVa-Wise | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $6,040 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $25,419 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $11,919 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $9,923 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $14,299 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 98% |
Admission |
PennWest California | UVa-Wise | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 835 | ||
| Admitted | - | 631 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.6% | |||
| Enrolled % | 39.8% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | 915/1160 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | UVa-Wise | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | UVa-Wise | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $42,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,827 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $215 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | UVa-Wise | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 0% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 7% |
Students |
PennWest California | UVa-Wise | ||
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| % In-State | 86% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 21% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | UVa-Wise | ||
| 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
- PennWest California is larger than than UVa-Wise based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 1,704 students)
PennWest California vs. UVa-Wise Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or UVa-Wise?
- PennWest California is 27.7% more expensive to attend than UVa-Wise for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $6,040.00)
- Out of state tuition is 119.6% higher at UVa-Wise than PennWest California ($25,419.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 14.4% lower than costs at The University of Virginia's College at Wise ($10,416 vs. $11,919)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Virginia's College at Wise than PennWest California (98% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Virginia's College at Wise students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($14,299 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or UVa-Wise? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UVa-Wise or PennWest California .
- The average SAT score at The University of Virginia's College at Wise (942) is 20 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
- Incoming PennWest California students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at UVa-Wise (20)
- Accepted freshman UVa-Wise students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at PennWest California (3.31)
PennWest California vs. UVa-Wise Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California or UVa-Wise? 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 UVa-Wise and PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than The University of Virginia's College at Wise (53% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $400 more per year than UVa-Wise graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $42,100)
- The University of Virginia's College at Wise students graduate with a $4,173 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($20,827 vs. $25,000)
- UVa-Wise graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($215 vs. $258)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UVa-Wise students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/