PennWest California vs. West Virginia Wesleyan College

Should I go to PennWest California or West Virginia Wesleyan College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PennWest California or West Virginia Wesleyan College 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
PennWest California vs. West Virginia Wesleyan College comparison
PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College College 3 College 4
PennWest California
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College
Location California, PA Buckhannon, WV
Setting Town Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 6,509 951
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1033
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu wvwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $31,698
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $31,698
Room & Board $10,416 $10,660
Avg Net Price - $20,470
Avg Grant Aid $0 $26,575
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 100%

Admission

PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,481
Admitted - 1,427
Acceptance Rate 96.4%
Enrolled % 19.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/23
SAT Range 940/1150 910/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College
Graduation Rate 53% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $46,600
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College
% Men 39% 47%
% Women 61% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 79%
% Black 12% 9%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College
% In-State 86% 49%
% Out-of-State 13% 43%

Campus

PennWest California West Virginia Wesleyan College
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 West Virginia Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 951 students)

PennWest California vs. West Virginia Wesleyan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or West Virginia Wesleyan College?

  • West Virginia Wesleyan College is 310.8% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($31,698.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 173.9% higher at West Virginia Wesleyan College than PennWest California ($31,698.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 2.3% lower than costs at West Virginia Wesleyan College ($10,416 vs. $10,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at West Virginia Wesleyan College than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia Wesleyan College students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($26,575 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at West Virginia Wesleyan College (1015) is 93 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming West Virginia Wesleyan College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman West Virginia Wesleyan College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

PennWest California vs. West Virginia Wesleyan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California or West Virginia Wesleyan College? 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 West Virginia Wesleyan College and PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at West Virginia Wesleyan College is higher than PennWest California (55% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from West Virginia Wesleyan College earn on average $4,100 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($46,600 vs. $42,500)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PennWest California students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 64%)

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