Chowan University vs. PennWest California

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

Chowan University PennWest California
Location Murfreesboro, NC California, PA
Setting Remote Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 886 6,509
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1033
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website chowan.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Chowan University PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $25,880 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $25,880 $11,574
Room & Board $9,650 $10,416
Avg Net Price $17,334 -
Avg Grant Aid $20,580 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 0%

Admission

Chowan University PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,259 -
Admitted 1,958 -
Acceptance Rate 86.7%
Enrolled % 11%
Avg High School GPA 2.89 3.31
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/25 18/24
SAT Range 880/1085 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

Chowan University PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

Chowan University PennWest California
Graduation Rate 30% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,600 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 32% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $35,150 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $363 $258

Diversity

Chowan University PennWest California
% Men 59% 39%
% Women 41% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 17% 77%
% Black 71% 12%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Chowan University PennWest California
% In-State 44% 86%
% Out-of-State 46% 13%

Campus

Chowan University PennWest California
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Chowan University based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 886 students)

Chowan University vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chowan University or PennWest California?

  • Chowan University is 235.4% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($25,880.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.6% higher at Chowan University than PennWest California ($25,880.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chowan University are 7.9% lower than costs at PennWest California ($9,650 vs. $10,416)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Chowan University than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chowan University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($20,580 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at PennWest California (922) is 149 points higher than at Chowan University (773)
  • Incoming PennWest California students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Chowan University (16)
  • Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Chowan University (2.89)

Chowan University vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Chowan University or PennWest California? 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 PennWest California and Chowan University.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Chowan University (53% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $7,900 more per year than Chowan University graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $34,600)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $10,150 lower median federal student loan debt than Chowan University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $35,150)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $105 less per month on federal student loans than Chowan University graduates. ($258 vs. $363)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chowan University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 32%)

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