Penn State Brandywine vs. WCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Brandywine in Media, 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 Brandywine based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Brandywine is located in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 15:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Penn State Brandywine vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine ($22,546 vs. $22,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 2.4% lower than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($14,474 vs. $14,828).
• Penn State Brandywine is 41.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $4,433 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $10,775.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Penn State Brandywine than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $2,793 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $22,599.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Brandywine as at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (73% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Brandywine students is 59.6% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($9,113 vs. $5,709).

Penn State Brandywine vs. WCU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is 10 points higher than at WCU (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWest Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Brandywine - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than WCU (78.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Penn State Brandywine vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Brandywine 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.