PennWest California vs. University of Charleston

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

PennWest California University of Charleston
Location California, PA Charleston, WV
Setting Town Fringe Small City
Enrollment 6,509 3,059
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #691
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu ucwv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California University of Charleston
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $31,400
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $31,400
Room & Board $10,416 $10,200
Avg Net Price - $21,308
Avg Grant Aid $0 $22,422
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 100%

Admission

PennWest California University of Charleston
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,571
Admitted - 1,064
Acceptance Rate 67.7%
Enrolled % 25%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.13
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 19/23
SAT Range 940/1150 985/1160
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

PennWest California University of Charleston
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)

Outcomes

PennWest California University of Charleston
Graduation Rate 53% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $45,200
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $211

Diversity

PennWest California University of Charleston
% Men 39% 60%
% Women 61% 40%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 58%
% Black 12% 9%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 1% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 22%

Students

PennWest California University of Charleston
% In-State 86% 57%
% Out-of-State 13% 30%

Campus

PennWest California University of Charleston
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 University of Charleston based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 3,059 students)

PennWest California vs. University of Charleston Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or University of Charleston?

  • University of Charleston is 306.9% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($31,400.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 171.3% higher at University of Charleston than PennWest California ($31,400.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Charleston are 2.1% lower than costs at PennWest California ($10,200 vs. $10,416)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Charleston than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Charleston students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($22,422 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Charleston (994) is 72 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming University of Charleston students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at University of Charleston (3.13)

PennWest California vs. University of Charleston Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California or University of Charleston? 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 University of Charleston and PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than University of Charleston (53% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from University of Charleston earn on average $2,700 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $42,500)
  • University of Charleston students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
  • University of Charleston graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Charleston students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 58%)

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