Penn State New Kensington vs. WCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State New Kensington in New Kensington, 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 New Kensington based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 421 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State New Kensington is located in New Kensington, PA (Rural Fringe setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington 9:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 2.9% lower than at Penn State New Kensington ($14,828 vs. $15,274).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Penn State New Kensington than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $1,535 more per year; $24,134 vs. $22,599).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State New Kensington than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (94% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State New Kensington students is 36.8% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($7,809 vs. $5,709).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Penn State New Kensington and WCU.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22% at Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State New Kensington graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State New Kensington 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.