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North Carolina Central University NCAT Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Fayetteville State University UNCG PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ECSU Wake Forest Penn State Schuylkill Robert Morris University ECU| Winston Salem State University | PennWest California | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WSSU | PennWest California | ||
| Location | Winston-Salem, NC | California, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 5,004 | 6,509 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #956 | #1033 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wssu.edu | calu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WSSU | PennWest California | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $3,401 | $7,716 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $14,057 | $11,574 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,220 | $10,416 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,097 | - | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,350 | $0 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 0% |
Admission |
WSSU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,628 | - | ||
| Admitted | 5,598 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 73.4% | |||
| Enrolled % | 15.3% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.01 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 14/19 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 830/1050 | 940/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2025 | Aug 22, 2025 |
Academics |
WSSU | PennWest California | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WSSU | PennWest California | ||
| Graduation Rate | 41% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $35,700 | $42,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 33% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,663 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $265 | $258 |
Diversity |
WSSU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 24% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 76% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | Yes | No | ||
| % White | 16% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 72% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
WSSU | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 13% | ||
Campus |
WSSU | 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
- PennWest California is larger than than WSSU based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 5,004 students)
WSSU vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WSSU or PennWest California?
- PennWest California is 126.9% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $3,401.00)
- Out of state tuition is 21.5% higher at WSSU than PennWest California ($14,057.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 7.7% lower than costs at Winston Salem State University ($10,416 vs. $11,220)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Winston Salem State University than PennWest California (86% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($8,350 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, WSSU or PennWest California? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PennWest California or WSSU .
- The average SAT score at PennWest California (922) is 52 points higher than at WSSU (870)
- Incoming PennWest California students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at WSSU (18)
- Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at WSSU (3.01)
WSSU vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WSSU 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 WSSU.
- The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Winston Salem State University (53% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $6,800 more per year than WSSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $35,700)
- PennWest California students graduate with a $663 lower median federal student loan debt than WSSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,663)
- PennWest California graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than WSSU graduates. ($258 vs. $265)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 33%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/