WCU vs. YCP

Deciding between West Chester University of Pennsylvania and York College of Pennsylvania? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
York College of Pennsylvania

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WCU West Chester, PA
  • YCP York, PA
  • Setting
  • WCU Large Suburban
  • YCP Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 17,171
  • YCP 3,825
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • YCP Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WCU #505
  • YCP #445
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WCU -
  • YCP -
  • Status
  • WCU Non-profit
  • YCP Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WCU
  • YCP
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WCU $10,775
  • YCP $25,588
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WCU $22,599
  • YCP $25,588
  • Room & Board
  • WCU $14,828
  • YCP $13,560
  • Average Net Price
  • WCU $22,546
  • YCP $20,096
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WCU $5,709
  • YCP $17,427
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WCU 73%
  • YCP 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WCU 17,193
  • YCP 7,657
  • Admitted
  • WCU 13,479
  • YCP 5,646
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WCU 78.4%
  • YCP 73.7%
  • Enrolled
  • WCU 22.4%
  • YCP 14.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1190
  • YCP 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 26
  • YCP 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • WCU 3.43
  • YCP 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WCU B+
  • YCP A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WCU Average
  • YCP Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • WCU
  • YCP Low
  • ACT Range
  • WCU 24/28
  • YCP 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • WCU 1100/1270
  • YCP 1020/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • YCP Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WCU
  • YCP Aug 23, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WCU 20:1
  • YCP 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WCU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • YCP
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WCU 68%
  • YCP 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WCU $49,000
  • YCP $50,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WCU 75%
  • YCP 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WCU $23,500
  • YCP $26,495
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WCU $242
  • YCP $273
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WCU 40%
  • YCP 41%
  • % Women
  • WCU 60%
  • YCP 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WCU Low
  • YCP Very Low
  • HBCU
  • WCU No
  • YCP No
  • % White
  • WCU 78%
  • YCP 83%
  • % Asian
  • WCU 2%
  • YCP 2%
  • % Black
  • WCU 11%
  • YCP 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • WCU 5%
  • YCP 6%
  • % Native American
  • WCU 0%
  • YCP 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WCU 0%
  • YCP 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WCU 3%
  • YCP 4%
  • % International
  • WCU 0%
  • YCP 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WCU 0%
  • YCP 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WCU 86%
  • YCP 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WCU 13%
  • YCP 32%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WCU Yes
  • YCP Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WCU No
  • YCP No
  • Meal Plan
  • WCU Yes
  • YCP Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WCU No
  • YCP No
  • Daycare Facility
  • WCU No
  • YCP No

Comparable Facts

Compare West Chester University of Pennsylvania in West Chester, PA with York College of Pennsylvania in York, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than YCP based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 3,825 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is located in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting); York College of Pennsylvania is in York, PA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. York College of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1; York College of Pennsylvania 15:1.

WCU vs. YCP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or YCP? 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 York College of Pennsylvania than WCU ($20,096 vs. $22,546).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at York College of Pennsylvania are 8.6% lower than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($13,560 vs. $14,828).
  • York College of Pennsylvania is 137.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $14,813 more per year; $25,588.00 vs. $10,775.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.2% higher at YCP than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $2,989 more per year; $25,588.00 vs. $22,599.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at York College of Pennsylvania than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by York College of Pennsylvania students is 205.3% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($17,427 vs. $5,709).

WCU vs. YCP Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU or YCP? 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 YCP and WCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1190) is 40 points higher than at YCP (1150).
  • Incoming WCU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at YCP).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270; York College of Pennsylvania 1020/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28; York College of Pennsylvania 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WCU - Test optional; YCP - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: YCP Aug 23, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman YCP students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at WCU (3.43).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than YCP (73.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at WCU vs. 14.6% at YCP.

WCU vs. YCP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WCU and YCP? 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 York College of Pennsylvania's (60%).
  • Graduates from York College of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,700 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $2,995 lower median loan debt than YCP graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,495).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than YCP graduates ($242 vs. $273).
  • More YCP graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 75%)

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.