Pennsylvania Western University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in California, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 7,451 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes34
Value46
Affordability62
Selectivity15
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 94.3%, Pennsylvania Western University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
94.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
940 – 1140
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pennsylvania Western University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,256 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,256
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
60%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,436
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$16,054
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,690
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,680
Books & Supplies
$1,260
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,570
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,570
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,916
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,944
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,171
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,517
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,633
Over $110,000
$23,272
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,25025%percentile
$23,725Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,72390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $5,225
No Pell $14,250
↓ $9,475
Dependent students $17,463
↓ $6,262
Independent students $15,743
↓ $7,982
Female students $17,125
↓ $6,600
Male students $15,888
↓ $7,837
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,750, less than completers ($23,725), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Pennsylvania Western University graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $47,295 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,295
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,200, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pennsylvania Western University is home to 7,451 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
7,451
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 71.4%5,319
Black 8.4%623
Hispanic 4.5%333
Other 3.5%259
International 1.4%105
Asian 0.9%66
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pennsylvania Western University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantCalifornia, Pennsylvania
Housing
Mostly residential4,565 beds on campus
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Pennsylvania Western University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
133 distinct programs across
27 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania Western University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,670
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$113M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$99,889
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
493 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
217
44%
$118,697
Associate Professors
142
29%
$96,949
Assistant Professors
89
18%
$79,660
Instructors
45
9%
$58,476
Pros & Cons of Pennsylvania Western University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pennsylvania Western University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Pennsylvania Western University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pennsylvania Western University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pennsylvania Western University.
Is Pennsylvania Western University hard to get into?
Pennsylvania Western University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 94.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania Western University?
Pennsylvania Western University has an acceptance rate of 94.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Pennsylvania Western University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania Western University scored between 940 and 1140 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Pennsylvania Western University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania Western University scored between 17 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Pennsylvania Western University cost?
The average net price after aid at Pennsylvania Western University is $18,256 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pennsylvania Western University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,295 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,256 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pennsylvania Western University known for?
Pennsylvania Western University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Social Work, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pennsylvania Western University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pennsylvania Western University are $47,295, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pennsylvania Western University accredited?
Yes. Pennsylvania Western University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Pennsylvania Western University?
Pennsylvania Western University enrolls 7,451 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania Western University?
Pennsylvania Western University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pennsylvania Western University a public or private college?
Pennsylvania Western University is a Public institution.
Where is Pennsylvania Western University located?
Pennsylvania Western University is located in California, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Pennsylvania Western University offer?
Pennsylvania Western University offers 133 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Social Work, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania Western University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania Western University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Pennsylvania
Other colleges in Pennsylvania share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Teacher Education (K-12)
Psychology
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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