IWU vs. PennWest California

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

IWU PennWest California
Location Marion, IN California, PA
Setting Distant Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 2,603 6,509
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #299 #1033
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website indwes.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $29,684 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $29,684 $11,574
Room & Board $10,050 $10,416
Avg Net Price $21,755 -
Avg Grant Aid $20,194 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 0%

Admission

IWU PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,946 -
Admitted 3,422 -
Acceptance Rate 86.7%
Enrolled % 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1190 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

IWU PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (56%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

IWU PennWest California
Graduation Rate 70% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,104 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $249 $258

Diversity

IWU PennWest California
% Men 34% 39%
% Women 66% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 77%
% Black 19% 12%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

IWU PennWest California
% In-State 60% 86%
% Out-of-State 39% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 2,603 students)

IWU vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or PennWest California?

  • Indiana Wesleyan University is 284.7% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($29,684.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 156.5% higher at IWU than PennWest California ($29,684.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University are 3.6% lower than costs at PennWest California ($10,050 vs. $10,416)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($20,194 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Indiana Wesleyan University (1086) is 164 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

IWU vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IWU 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 IWU.

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than PennWest California (70% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University earn on average $11,800 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $42,500)
  • Indiana Wesleyan University students graduate with a $896 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($24,104 vs. $25,000)
  • IWU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($249 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 55%)

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