Penn State vs. WCU

Deciding between Penn State Main Campus 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.

Penn State Main Campus
West Chester University of Pennsylvania

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • WCU West Chester, PA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • WCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • WCU 17,171
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • WCU #505
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • WCU -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • WCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • WCU $10,775
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • WCU $22,599
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • WCU $14,828
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • WCU $22,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • WCU $5,709
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • WCU 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • WCU 17,193
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • WCU 13,479
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • WCU 78.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • WCU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • WCU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • WCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • WCU 3.43
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • WCU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • WCU
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • WCU 24/28
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • WCU 1100/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • WCU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • WCU 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • WCU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • WCU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • WCU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • WCU 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • WCU $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • WCU $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • WCU 40%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • WCU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • WCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • WCU No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • WCU 78%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • WCU 2%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • WCU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • WCU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • WCU 3%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • WCU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • WCU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • WCU 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA with West Chester University of Pennsylvania in West Chester, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than WCU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 17,171 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Penn State vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State 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 Penn State ($22,546 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 2.4% lower than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($14,474 vs. $14,828).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 91.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $9,869 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $10,775.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.9% higher at Penn State than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $19,191 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $22,599.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than at Penn State Main Campus (73% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 98.6% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($11,336 vs. $5,709).

Penn State vs. WCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State 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 Penn State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 140 points higher than at WCU (1190).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Penn State vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania's (68%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($242 vs. $277).
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 69%)

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.