Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
GS Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus KSU Georgia Southwestern Albany State University PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Clayton State University Georgia State ASU Columbus State Georgia| Valdosta State University | PennWest California | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
VSU | PennWest California | ||
| Location | Valdosta, GA | California, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 10,151 | 6,509 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #967 | #1038 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | valdosta.edu | calu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
VSU | PennWest California | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,371 | $7,716 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,426 | $11,574 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,922 | $10,416 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,532 | - | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,914 | $0 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 0% |
Admission |
VSU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,689 | - | ||
| Admitted | 3,915 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.5% | |||
| Enrolled % | 29% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.23 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 950/1130 | 940/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | |||
| Application Deadline | Jun 15, 2026 | Aug 22, 2026 |
Academics |
VSU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 19:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
VSU | PennWest California | ||
| Graduation Rate | 43% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,300 | $42,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 41% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $258 |
Diversity |
VSU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 21% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 36% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
VSU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 23% | 13% | ||
Campus |
VSU | 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
- Valdosta State University is larger than than PennWest California based on total student enrollment (10,151 students vs. 6,509 students)
VSU vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, VSU or PennWest California?
- PennWest California is 76.5% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $4,371.00)
- Out of state tuition is 33.3% higher at VSU than PennWest California ($15,426.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valdosta State University are 16.7% lower than costs at PennWest California ($8,922 vs. $10,416)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Valdosta State University than PennWest California (93% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Valdosta State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($9,914 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, VSU or PennWest California? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PennWest California or VSU .
- The average SAT score at Valdosta State University (993) is 71 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
- Incoming VSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
- Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at VSU (3.23)
VSU vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, VSU 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 VSU.
- The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Valdosta State University (53% vs. 43%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $2,200 more per year than VSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $40,300)
- PennWest California and VSU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
- PennWest California and VSU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 41%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/