FDU vs. PennWest California

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

 FDU PennWest California
Location Teaneck, NJ California, PA
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 7,285 6,509
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #797 #1033
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fdu.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 FDU PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $33,264 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $33,264 $11,574
Room & Board $15,588 $10,416
Avg Net Price $16,030 -
Avg Grant Aid $30,059 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 0%

Admission

 FDU PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,294 -
Admitted 3,611 -
Acceptance Rate 84.1%
Enrolled % 14.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/23 18/24
SAT Range 908/1180 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

 FDU PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (53%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

 FDU PennWest California
Graduation Rate 41% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,900 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $258

Diversity

 FDU PennWest California
% Men 41% 39%
% Women 59% 61%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 25% 77%
% Black 12% 12%
% Hispanic 36% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 8% 1%
% Unknown Race 12% 2%

Students

 FDU PennWest California
% In-State 68% 86%
% Out-of-State 15% 13%

Campus

 FDU 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

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is larger than than PennWest California based on total student enrollment (7,285 students vs. 6,509 students)

FDU vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU or PennWest California?

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is 331.1% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($33,264.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 187.4% higher at FDU than PennWest California ($33,264.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 49.7% lower than costs at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus ($10,416 vs. $15,588)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus than PennWest California (98% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($30,059 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus (995) is 73 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming FDU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman FDU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.31) as students at PennWest California (3.31)

FDU vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, FDU 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 FDU.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus (53% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus earn on average $10,400 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($52,900 vs. $42,500)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than FDU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than FDU graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 60%)

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