WMU vs. Penn State New Kensington

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI with Penn State New Kensington in New Kensington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Michigan University is larger than Penn State New Kensington based on total student enrollment (16,744 students vs. 421 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting); Penn State New Kensington is in New Kensington, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Western Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State New Kensington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Michigan University 16:1; Penn State New Kensington 9:1.

WMU vs. Penn State New Kensington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU or Penn State New Kensington? 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 Western Michigan University than Penn State New Kensington ($17,331 vs. $19,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 20.3% lower than at Penn State New Kensington ($12,174 vs. $15,274).
• Western Michigan University is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State New Kensington (about $844 more per year; $15,252.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.8% higher at Penn State New Kensington than at Western Michigan University (about $5,100 more per year; $24,134.00 vs. $19,034.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Western Michigan University as at Penn State New Kensington (94% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Michigan University students is 41.5% larger than aid received by Penn State New Kensington students ($11,048 vs. $7,809).

WMU vs. Penn State New Kensington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WMU or Penn State New Kensington? 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 Penn State New Kensington and WMU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State New Kensington (1190) is 80 points higher than at WMU (1110).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Michigan University 990/1220; Penn State New Kensington 1110/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Michigan University 20/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WMU - Test-free; Penn State New Kensington - Test optional.
• Penn State New Kensington has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than WMU (84.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at WMU vs. 22% at Penn State New Kensington.

WMU vs. Penn State New Kensington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WMU and Penn State New Kensington? 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).

• Western Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Penn State New Kensington's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State New Kensington earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than WMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Michigan University graduates have a $185 lower median loan debt than Penn State New Kensington graduates ($26,633 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WMU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State New Kensington graduates ($275 vs. $277).
• More Penn State New Kensington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 54%)

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.