WCU vs. SU

Should I go to West Chester University of Pennsylvania or Shenandoah University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WCU or SU 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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West Chester University of Pennsylvania vs. Shenandoah University comparison
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Shenandoah University College 3 College 4
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Shenandoah University
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Overview

WCU SU
Location West Chester, PA Winchester, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 17,275 4,260
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #496 #537
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcupa.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WCU SU
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $33,790
Tuition (Out of State) $19,290 $33,790
Room & Board $14,228 $11,230
Avg Net Price $22,973 $26,143
Avg Grant Aid $5,443 $23,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 64% 100%

Admission

WCU SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,778 2,296
Admitted 12,982 1,845
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 80.4%
Enrolled % 23.2% 25.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.43 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/30 19/26
SAT Range 1080/1260 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

WCU SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

WCU SU
Graduation Rate 68% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $258

Diversity

WCU SU
% Men 39% 32%
% Women 61% 68%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 78% 59%
% Black 11% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 13%

Students

WCU SU
% In-State 87% 52%
% Out-of-State 12% 48%

Campus

WCU SU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 4,260 students)

WCU vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or SU?

  • Shenandoah University is 337.9% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.2% higher at SU than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($33,790.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than SU ($22,973 vs. $26,143)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 26.7% lower than costs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($11,230 vs. $14,228)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (100% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 331.1% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($23,467 vs. $5,443)

WCU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 67 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at WCU (3.43)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than SU (80.4%)

WCU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WCU or SU? 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 SU and WCU.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Shenandoah University (68% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $700 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $48,300)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $25,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($242 vs. $258)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 60%)

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