PennWest California vs. WVSU

Should I go to PennWest California or West Virginia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PennWest California or WVSU 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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PennWest California vs. West Virginia State University comparison
PennWest California West Virginia State University College 3 College 4
PennWest California West Virginia State University
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Overview

PennWest California WVSU
Location California, PA Institute, WV
Setting Town Fringe Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 6,509 3,785
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #1009
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu wvstateu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California WVSU
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $8,122
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $13,810
Room & Board $10,416 $12,214
Avg Net Price - $11,684
Avg Grant Aid $0 $9,482
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 90%

Admission

PennWest California WVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,775
Admitted - 2,669
Acceptance Rate 96.2%
Enrolled % 12.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.24
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 17/22
SAT Range 940/1150 840/1065
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2024

Academics

PennWest California WVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

PennWest California WVSU
Graduation Rate 53% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $32,700
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 35%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $258 $240

Diversity

PennWest California WVSU
% Men 39% 41%
% Women 61% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No Yes
% White 77% 65%
% Black 12% 14%
% Hispanic 3% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 10%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 9%

Students

PennWest California WVSU
% In-State 86% 81%
% Out-of-State 13% 17%

Campus

PennWest California WVSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than WVSU based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 3,785 students)

PennWest California vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or WVSU?

  • West Virginia State University is 5.3% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($8,122.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.3% higher at WVSU than PennWest California ($13,810.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 17.3% lower than costs at West Virginia State University ($10,416 vs. $12,214)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at West Virginia State University than PennWest California (90% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($9,482 vs. $0)

Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or WVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WVSU or PennWest California .

  • The average SAT score at West Virginia State University (927) is 5 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming PennWest California students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at WVSU (20)
  • Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at WVSU (3.24)

PennWest California vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California or WVSU? 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 WVSU and PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than West Virginia State University (53% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $9,800 more per year than WVSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $32,700)
  • West Virginia State University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
  • WVSU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 35%)

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