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Temple Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Millersville University of Pennsylvania Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Penn State TU Drexel WVU Ship Pitt Penn State Brandywine Penn State Abington| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | Shenandoah University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | SU | ||
| Location | West Chester, PA | Winchester, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,275 | 4,260 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #496 | #537 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcupa.edu | su.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | SU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $33,790 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,290 | $33,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,228 | $11,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,973 | $26,143 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,443 | $23,467 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 64% | 100% |
Admission |
WCU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,778 | 2,296 | ||
| Admitted | 12,982 | 1,845 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 80.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.2% | 25.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.43 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1260 | 1010/1230 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WCU | SU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | SU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $48,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $258 |
Diversity |
WCU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 13% |
Students |
WCU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 48% | ||
Campus |
WCU | SU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 4,260 students)
WCU vs. SU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or SU?
- Shenandoah University is 337.9% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 75.2% higher at SU than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($33,790.00 vs. $19,290.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than SU ($22,973 vs. $26,143)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 26.7% lower than costs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($11,230 vs. $14,228)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (100% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 331.1% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($23,467 vs. $5,443)
WCU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or WCU .
- The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 67 points higher than at SU (1005)
- Incoming WCU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SU (22)
- Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at WCU (3.43)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than SU (80.4%)
WCU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or SU? 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 SU and WCU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Shenandoah University (68% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $700 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $48,300)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $25,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($242 vs. $258)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/