WCU vs. Widener University-Main Campus

Should I go to West Chester University of Pennsylvania or Widener University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WCU or Widener University-Main Campus 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.
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West Chester University of Pennsylvania vs. Widener University Main Campus comparison
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Widener University Main Campus College 3 College 4
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Widener University Main Campus
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Overview

 WCU Widener University-Main Campus
Location West Chester, PA Chester, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 17,275 5,416
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #496 #364
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcupa.edu widener.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WCU Widener University-Main Campus
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $50,624
Tuition (Out of State) $19,290 $50,624
Room & Board $14,228 $15,200
Avg Net Price $22,973 $32,185
Avg Grant Aid $5,443 $32,412
% Receiving Grant Aid 64% 97%

Admission

 WCU Widener University-Main Campus
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,778 5,961
Admitted 12,982 5,227
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 87.7%
Enrolled % 23.2% 10.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.43 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/30 22/29
SAT Range 1080/1260 1105/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 WCU Widener University-Main Campus
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (5%)

Outcomes

 WCU Widener University-Main Campus
Graduation Rate 68% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $59,500
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $279

Diversity

 WCU Widener University-Main Campus
% Men 39% 34%
% Women 61% 66%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 78% 70%
% Black 11% 13%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 WCU Widener University-Main Campus
% In-State 87% 61%
% Out-of-State 12% 38%

Campus

 WCU Widener University-Main Campus
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 Widener University-Main Campus based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 5,416 students)

WCU vs. Widener University-Main Campus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or Widener University-Main Campus?

  • Widener University Main Campus is 556.1% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($50,624.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 162.4% higher at Widener University-Main Campus than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($50,624.00 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 Widener University-Main Campus ($22,973 vs. $32,185)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 6.8% lower than costs at Widener University Main Campus ($14,228 vs. $15,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Widener University Main Campus than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (97% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Widener University Main Campus students is 495.5% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($32,412 vs. $5,443)

WCU vs. Widener University-Main Campus Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Widener University-Main Campus? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Widener University-Main Campus or WCU .

  • The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 40 points higher than at Widener University-Main Campus (1032)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Widener University-Main Campus (23)
  • Accepted freshman Widener University-Main Campus students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at WCU (3.43)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Widener University-Main Campus (87.7%)

WCU vs. Widener University-Main Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WCU or Widener University-Main Campus? 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 Widener University-Main Campus and WCU.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Widener University Main Campus (68% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Widener University Main Campus earn on average $10,500 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $49,000)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Widener University-Main Campus graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Widener University-Main Campus graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Widener University-Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 68%)

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