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Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Campbell University PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Wingate University Lenoir-Rhyne University Penn State Schuylkill Robert Morris University BAC CSU Concord University ASU| Gardner Webb University | PennWest California | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
GWU | PennWest California | ||
| Location | Boiling Springs, NC | California, PA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 3,144 | 6,509 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #639 | #1033 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Southern Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gardner-webb.edu | calu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
GWU | PennWest California | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $31,220 | $7,716 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,220 | $11,574 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,770 | $10,416 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,339 | - | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,130 | $0 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 0% |
Admission |
GWU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,728 | - | ||
| Admitted | 4,293 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.9% | |||
| Enrolled % | 9.4% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/25 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1210 | 940/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 |
Academics |
GWU | PennWest California | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
GWU | PennWest California | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,500 | $42,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 52% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,969 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $258 |
Diversity |
GWU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 32% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 68% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 17% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 10% | 2% |
Students |
GWU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 13% | ||
Campus |
GWU | 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 GWU based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 3,144 students)
GWU vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GWU or PennWest California?
- Gardner Webb University is 304.6% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($31,220.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 169.7% higher at GWU than PennWest California ($31,220.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 3.4% lower than costs at Gardner Webb University ($10,416 vs. $10,770)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($24,130 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, GWU or PennWest California? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PennWest California or GWU .
- The average SAT score at Gardner Webb University (977) is 55 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
- Incoming GWU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
- Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at PennWest California (3.31)
GWU vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, GWU 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 GWU.
- The graduation rate at GWU is higher than PennWest California (55% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $2,000 more per year than GWU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $40,500)
- Gardner Webb University students graduate with a $31 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($24,969 vs. $25,000)
- PennWest California and GWU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GWU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/