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NSU Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Morgan State Bowie State University RU PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania North Carolina Central University Old Dominion Delaware State University Hampton University Penn State Schuylkill| PennWest California | Virginia State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PennWest California | VSU | ||
| Location | California, PA | Petersburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 4,648 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | #980 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | vsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | VSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $5,540 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $16,542 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $11,544 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $15,773 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $11,498 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 92% |
Admission |
PennWest California | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 8,230 | ||
| Admitted | - | 7,384 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.7% | |||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 2.85 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 14/17 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | 830/1030 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | VSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | VSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 40% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 28% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $29,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $305 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 77% | 3% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 87% | ||
| % 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 | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 27% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | VSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- PennWest California is larger than than VSU based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 4,648 students)
PennWest California vs. VSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or VSU?
- PennWest California is 39.3% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $5,540.00)
- Out of state tuition is 42.9% higher at VSU than PennWest California ($16,542.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 10.8% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($10,416 vs. $11,544)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia State University than PennWest California (92% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($11,498 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or VSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VSU or PennWest California .
- The average SAT score at PennWest California (922) is 65 points higher than at VSU (857)
- Incoming PennWest California students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at VSU (18)
- Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at VSU (2.85)
PennWest California vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California or VSU? 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 VSU and PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Virginia State University (53% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $5,800 more per year than VSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $36,700)
- PennWest California students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $29,500)
- PennWest California graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($258 vs. $305)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 28%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/