Marist College vs. WCU

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

Marist College WCU
Location Poughkeepsie, NY West Chester, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,452 17,076
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #217 #532
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website marist.edu wcupa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Marist College WCU
Tuition (In State) $45,330 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $45,330 $19,290
Room & Board $17,710 $12,474
Avg Net Price $40,106 $21,684
Avg Grant Aid $23,836 $5,503
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 70%

Admission

Marist College WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,224 16,467
Admitted 6,616 13,042
Acceptance Rate 64.7% 79.2%
Enrolled % 19.5% 23.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.43
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/30 24/28
SAT Range 1220/1360 1100/1270
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 Feb 15, 2026

Academics

Marist College WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Communication (16%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

Outcomes

Marist College WCU
Graduation Rate 80% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,000 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $242

Diversity

Marist College WCU
% Men 6% 5%
% Women 8% 11%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 78%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Marist College WCU
% In-State 44% 87%
% Out-of-State 54% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Marist College based on total student enrollment (17,076 students vs. 6,452 students)

Marist College vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marist College or WCU?

  • Marist College is 487.5% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($45,330.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 135% higher at Marist College than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($45,330.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Marist College ($21,684 vs. $40,106)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 42% lower than costs at Marist College ($12,474 vs. $17,710)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marist College than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (97% vs. 70%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marist College students is 333.1% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($23,836 vs. $5,503)

Marist College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Marist College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at WCU (3.43)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Marist College (64.7%)

Marist College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Marist College 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 Marist College.

  • The graduation rate at Marist College is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (80% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Marist College earn on average $10,000 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $49,000)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Marist College graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Marist College graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
  • More Marist College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 75%)

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