Fitchburg State vs. WCU

Should I go to Fitchburg State University or West Chester University of Pennsylvania? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fitchburg State or WCU 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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Fitchburg State University vs. West Chester University of Pennsylvania comparison
Fitchburg State University West Chester University of Pennsylvania College 3 College 4
Fitchburg State University West Chester University of Pennsylvania
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Overview

Fitchburg State WCU
Location Fitchburg, MA West Chester, PA
Setting Midsize Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,554 17,275
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #549 #496
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fitchburgstate.edu wcupa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fitchburg State WCU
Tuition (In State) $970 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $19,290
Room & Board $13,516 $14,228
Avg Net Price $15,535 $22,973
Avg Grant Aid $7,093 $5,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 64%

Admission

Fitchburg State WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,084 14,778
Admitted 2,654 12,982
Acceptance Rate 86.1% 87.8%
Enrolled % 18.3% 23.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.43
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 23/30
SAT Range 1020/1220 1080/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Fitchburg State WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

Outcomes

Fitchburg State WCU
Graduation Rate 47% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,000 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,685 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $234 $242

Diversity

Fitchburg State WCU
% Men 38% 39%
% Women 62% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 78%
% Black 9% 11%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Fitchburg State WCU
% In-State 90% 87%
% Out-of-State 10% 12%

Campus

Fitchburg State WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Fitchburg State based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 6,554 students)

Fitchburg State vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fitchburg State or WCU?

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 695.5% more expensive to attend than Fitchburg State for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 173.6% higher at WCU than Fitchburg State University ($19,290.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fitchburg State University than WCU ($15,535 vs. $22,973)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fitchburg State University are 5.3% lower than costs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($13,516 vs. $14,228)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fitchburg State University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (76% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fitchburg State University students is 30.3% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($7,093 vs. $5,443)

Fitchburg State vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 79 points higher than at Fitchburg State (993)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Fitchburg State (21)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Fitchburg State (3.29)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Fitchburg State (86.1%)

Fitchburg State vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fitchburg State or WCU? 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 WCU and Fitchburg State.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Fitchburg State University (68% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $5,000 more per year than Fitchburg State graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $44,000)
  • Fitchburg State University students graduate with a $815 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($22,685 vs. $23,500)
  • Fitchburg State graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($234 vs. $242)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fitchburg State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 65%)

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