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 tables 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.

Cost details

• 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).
• 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 vs. $22,599).
• 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).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at WCU than at Penn State Berks (26 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Penn State Berks and WCU.
• Enrolled first-year students at WCU average a 3.43 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Loans and repayment

• 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.