Ursinus College vs West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA)
Ursinus College and West Chester University of Pennsylvania, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Ursinus, a private liberal arts college, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 67%, while West Chester, a public university, welcomes a broader range of students with an acceptance rate of 80%. Ursinus students predominantly pursue degrees in the social sciences, biological sciences, and business, while West Chester offers a wider array of programs, including popular majors in education, business, and nursing. The student bodies reflect these differences, with Ursinus fostering a close-knit community of 1,600 undergraduates and West Chester hosting a diverse population of over 17,000 students. Ursinus graduates enjoy a high placement rate, with 95% securing employment or continuing their education within six months of graduation, while West Chester boasts an impressive 80% graduation rate. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two
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![]() Ursinus College |
![]() West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
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Overview |
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Location | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 85.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 82.7% | 89.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1200 - 1360 | 1070 - 1250 |
ACT range | 27 - 32 | 23 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 34.0% | 27.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 9.0% | 1.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,818 | 14,020 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,158 | 12,528 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 433 | 2,628 |
Yield rate | 13.7% | 21.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $73,982 |
In state:
$28,419
Out of state:
$40,243
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Average net price | $31,438 | $14,133 |
Tuition | $56,600 |
In state:
$7,716
Out of state:
$19,290
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,230
Meal plan:
$4,830
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Room/dormitory:
$5,794
Meal plan:
$3,700
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $39,622 |
100.0%
Average amount $4,607 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
69.0%
Average amount $5,630 |
51.0%
Average amount $5,238 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $18,143 |
11.0%
Average amount $11,835 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,556
Men 52.2% Women 47.8% |
14,471
Men 40.0% Women 60.0% |
Graduate students | N/A |
3,143
Men 31.7% Women 68.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 42.4% | 11.4% |
International students | 0.9% | 0.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,510 | 5,128 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland New York Connecticut | Pennsylvania New Jersey Delaware Maryland New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 20:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 72.5% | 72.8% |
Dropout rate | 27.3% | 7.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 18.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Music (Master's Degrees)
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