Penn State Beaver vs. WCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA 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 Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Beaver is located in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver 12:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Penn State Beaver vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver than WCU ($18,581 vs. $22,546).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 2.4% lower than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($14,474 vs. $14,828).
• Penn State Beaver is 33.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $3,633 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $10,775.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Penn State Beaver than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $1,535 more per year; $24,134.00 vs. $22,599.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (88% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Beaver students is 58.4% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($9,045 vs. $5,709).

Penn State Beaver vs. WCU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is the same as at WCU (1190).
• Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 1080/1290; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 24/27; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Beaver - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than WCU (78.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Penn State Beaver vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Penn State Beaver vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Beaver 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).

• West Chester University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Beaver 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.