SAU vs. PennWest California

Should I go to Spring Arbor University or PennWest California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SAU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Spring Arbor University vs. PennWest California comparison
Spring Arbor University PennWest California College 3 College 4
PennWest California
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

SAU PennWest California
Location Spring Arbor, MI California, PA
Setting Small Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 2,396 6,509
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #501 #1033
Religious Affiliation Free Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arbor.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SAU PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $31,020 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $31,020 $11,574
Room & Board $10,652 $10,416
Avg Net Price $22,375 -
Avg Grant Aid $20,677 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 0%

Admission

SAU PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,312 -
Admitted 1,094 -
Acceptance Rate 47.3%
Enrolled % 20.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 18/24
SAT Range 970/1135 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

SAU PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Work and Family Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

SAU PennWest California
Graduation Rate 56% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,043 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $258

Diversity

SAU PennWest California
% Men 23% 39%
% Women 77% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 77%
% Black 10% 12%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

SAU PennWest California
% In-State 83% 86%
% Out-of-State 13% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than SAU based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 2,396 students)

SAU vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAU or PennWest California?

  • Spring Arbor University is 302% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($31,020.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 168% higher at SAU than PennWest California ($31,020.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 2.3% lower than costs at Spring Arbor University ($10,416 vs. $10,652)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Spring Arbor University than PennWest California (99% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Spring Arbor University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($20,677 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Spring Arbor University (1073) is 151 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming SAU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

SAU vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SAU 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 SAU.

  • The graduation rate at SAU is higher than PennWest California (56% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Spring Arbor University earn on average $100 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $42,500)
  • Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $957 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($24,043 vs. $25,000)
  • SAU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($248 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 58%)

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