Penn State Berks vs. WCU

Comparable Facts

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

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 1,884 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Berks 13:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Penn State Berks vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Berks or WCU? 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Penn State Berks ($22,546 vs. $23,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 2.4% lower than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($14,474 vs. $14,828).
• Penn State Berks is 48.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $5,197 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $10,775.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at Penn State Berks than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $4,359 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $22,599.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than at Penn State Berks (73% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Berks students is 64.7% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($9,405 vs. $5,709).

Penn State Berks vs. WCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Berks or WCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WCU and Penn State Berks.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1190) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Berks (1180).
• Incoming WCU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (26 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Berks 1090/1275; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Berks 18/27; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Berks - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman WCU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than WCU (78.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Penn State Berks vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Berks and WCU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• West Chester University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Berks earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Berks graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Berks graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 69%)

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.