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West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Public Graduate Good 69/100

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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West Chester, Pennsylvania

About West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 14,164 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.

Official website: wcupa.edu

Acceptance: 78.4%
Graduation: 45.2%
Net Price: $23,331
Median Earnings (10yr): $61,258
Enrollment: 14,164
Student : Faculty: 20:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

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

69/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 75

Value 47

Affordability 33

Selectivity 53

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 78.4%, West Chester University of Pennsylvania is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

78.4%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1100 – 1270

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

24 – 28

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether West Chester University of Pennsylvania is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 3.9 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending West Chester University of Pennsylvania 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 $23,331 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$23,331

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

25%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

54%

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): $10,775
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $22,599
Room & Board (on-campus): $14,828
Room & Board (off-campus): $18,526
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,848
Other Expenses (off-campus): $4,848
Total Cost of Attendance: $28,394

Application fee: $45 (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

$17,018
$30,001 – $48,000

$17,414
$48,001 – $75,000

$20,417
$75,001 – $110,000

$24,715
Over $110,000

$27,160

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.

$5,500

10% percentile

$9,500

25% percentile

$23,500

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$31,500

90% 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 $19,833 ↓ $3,667

No Pell $17,500 ↓ $6,000

Dependent students $19,000 ↓ $4,500

Independent students $18,000 ↓ $5,500

Female students $19,500 ↓ $4,000

Male students $17,500 ↓ $6,000

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $17,513, close to what completers borrow ($23,500) but without the degree to show for it.

Graduation Rate & Retention

45% of full-time students who enrolled at West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

45%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

84%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn a median of $61,258 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$61,258

Earning > $25K

85%

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

$47,600

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$56,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$48,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$48,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$53,500

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,100, about 16% 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 ↑ 10.6 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is home to 14,164 students, a large student community.

Total Enrolled

14,164

Part-Time

First-Generation

28%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 73.2% 10,368

Black 10.4% 1,473

Hispanic 8.2% 1,159

Other 4.0% 559

Asian 2.9% 411

International 0.3% 37

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb West Chester, Pennsylvania

Housing

Partly residential 5,383 beds available

Adult Learners

7% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers an extensive catalog of programs: 107 distinct programs across 24 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.

10 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
General Sales & Distribution $75K ($51K–$102K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

18 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Dietetics & Nutrition $56K ($41K–$68K)
Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)

6 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)

3 Programs

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

4 Programs

English

Rhetoric & Composition $48K ($32K–$67K)
English $49K ($34K–$64K)
English $49K ($34K–$64K)

3 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)
Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 20:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

20:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$8,723

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$61M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$96,619

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

661 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	244	37%	$117,675
Associate Professors	212	32%	$96,311
Assistant Professors	135	20%	$81,166
Instructors	70	11%	$53,962

Pros & Cons of West Chester University of Pennsylvania

A quick at-a-glance summary of how West Chester University of Pennsylvania tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Larger class sizes than typical
Below-average completion rate

Best for: Based on the data, West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Is West Chester University of Pennsylvania hard to get into?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78.4%.

What is the acceptance rate at West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania has an acceptance rate of 78.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

The middle 50% of admitted students at West Chester University of Pennsylvania scored between 1100 and 1270 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

The middle 50% of admitted students at West Chester University of Pennsylvania scored between 24 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does West Chester University of Pennsylvania cost?

The average net price after aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is $23,331 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is West Chester University of Pennsylvania worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,258 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,331 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is West Chester University of Pennsylvania known for?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering West Chester University of Pennsylvania are $61,258, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is West Chester University of Pennsylvania accredited?

Yes. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania enrolls 14,164 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is West Chester University of Pennsylvania a public or private college?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a Public institution.

Where is West Chester University of Pennsylvania located?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

What programs does West Chester University of Pennsylvania offer?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers 107 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Psychology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

The student-to-faculty ratio at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.