Franciscan vs. WCU

Deciding between Franciscan University of Steubenville and West Chester University of Pennsylvania? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Franciscan University of Steubenville
West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Franciscan Steubenville, OH
  • WCU West Chester, PA
  • Setting
  • Franciscan Small City
  • WCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Franciscan 3,976
  • WCU 17,171
  • Type
  • Franciscan Private 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Franciscan #473
  • WCU #505
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Franciscan Roman Catholic
  • WCU -
  • Status
  • Franciscan Non-profit
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Franciscan
  • WCU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Franciscan $34,100
  • WCU $10,775
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Franciscan $34,100
  • WCU $22,599
  • Room & Board
  • Franciscan $10,000
  • WCU $14,828
  • Average Net Price
  • Franciscan $23,086
  • WCU $22,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Franciscan $21,522
  • WCU $5,709
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Franciscan 99%
  • WCU 73%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Franciscan 2,968
  • WCU 17,193
  • Admitted
  • Franciscan 1,732
  • WCU 13,479
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Franciscan 58.4%
  • WCU 78.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Franciscan 41.7%
  • WCU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Franciscan 1230
  • WCU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Franciscan 25
  • WCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Franciscan 3.78
  • WCU 3.43
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Franciscan A-
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Franciscan Difficult
  • WCU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Franciscan Low
  • WCU
  • ACT Range
  • Franciscan 22/29
  • WCU 24/28
  • SAT Range
  • Franciscan 1110/1350
  • WCU 1100/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Franciscan Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Franciscan
  • WCU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Franciscan 17:1
  • WCU 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Franciscan
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (30%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • WCU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Franciscan 70%
  • WCU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Franciscan $39,800
  • WCU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Franciscan 78%
  • WCU 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Franciscan $22,000
  • WCU $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Franciscan $227
  • WCU $242
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Franciscan 47%
  • WCU 40%
  • % Women
  • Franciscan 53%
  • WCU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Franciscan Very Low
  • WCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Franciscan No
  • WCU No
  • % White
  • Franciscan 83%
  • WCU 78%
  • % Asian
  • Franciscan 2%
  • WCU 2%
  • % Black
  • Franciscan 1%
  • WCU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Franciscan 10%
  • WCU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Franciscan 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Franciscan 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Franciscan 2%
  • WCU 3%
  • % International
  • Franciscan 1%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Franciscan 1%
  • WCU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Franciscan 19%
  • WCU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Franciscan 80%
  • WCU 13%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Franciscan Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Franciscan No
  • WCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Franciscan Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Franciscan No
  • WCU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Franciscan No
  • WCU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, OH with West Chester University of Pennsylvania in West Chester, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than Franciscan based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 3,976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Franciscan University of Steubenville is located in Steubenville, OH (Small City setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Franciscan University of Steubenville 17:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Franciscan vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Franciscan or WCU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Franciscan ($22,546 vs. $23,086).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franciscan University of Steubenville are 32.6% lower than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($10,000 vs. $14,828).
  • Franciscan University of Steubenville is 216.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $23,325 more per year; $34,100.00 vs. $10,775.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.9% higher at Franciscan than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $11,501 more per year; $34,100.00 vs. $22,599.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franciscan University of Steubenville than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franciscan University of Steubenville students is 277% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($21,522 vs. $5,709).

Franciscan vs. WCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Franciscan or WCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WCU and Franciscan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franciscan University of Steubenville (1230) is 40 points higher than at WCU (1190).
  • Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Franciscan).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franciscan University of Steubenville 1110/1350; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franciscan University of Steubenville 22/29; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Franciscan - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Franciscan students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at WCU (3.43).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Franciscan (58.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 41.7% at Franciscan vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Franciscan vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Franciscan and WCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Franciscan University of Steubenville's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania's (68%).
  • Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than Franciscan graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than WCU graduates ($22,000 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Franciscan graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WCU graduates ($227 vs. $242).
  • More Franciscan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.