West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA) vs Cal U of Pa

West Chester University of Pennsylvania and California University of Pennsylvania, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. West Chester, nestled in the vibrant town of West Chester, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body from various backgrounds. California, situated in the charming town of California, stands out with its smaller class sizes, fostering a close-knit community. While West Chester excels in fields like Business, Education, and Nursing, California shines in areas such as Engineering, Technology, and Health Sciences. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, ensuring students are well-prepared for their future endeavors. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California University of Pennsylvania logo

California University of Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania logo

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Location California, Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania
Campus setting Suburb: Small Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 67.0% 85.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 97.1% 89.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $50
SAT range 940 - 1150 1070 - 1250
ACT range 18 - 24 23 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 38.0% 27.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0% 1.0%
Total number of applicants 3,933 14,020
Total number of admissions given out 3,818 12,528
Admitted students who chose to enroll 815 2,628
Yield rate 21.3% 21.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $27,904

Out of state: $32,522
In state: $28,419

Out of state: $40,243
Average net price $20,317 $14,133
Tuition
In state: $7,716

Out of state: $11,574
In state: $7,716

Out of state: $19,290
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,822

Meal plan: $3,900
Room/dormitory: $5,794

Meal plan: $3,700
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $6,250
100.0%
Average amount $4,607
Students receiving federal student loan 62.0%
Average amount $4,982
51.0%
Average amount $5,238
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $9,920
11.0%
Average amount $11,835

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,463
Men 43.3% Women 56.7%
14,471
Men 40.0% Women 60.0%
Graduate students 2,046
Men 30.4% Women 69.6%
3,143
Men 31.7% Women 68.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 13.0% 11.4%
International students 1.0% 0.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,075 5,128
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Pennsylvania Ohio New York Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania New Jersey Delaware Maryland New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 48.4% 72.8%
Dropout rate 23.8% 7.6%
Transferred out 26.0% 18.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,275
  • Year 2: $79,284
  • Year 3: $81,087
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,369
  • Year 2: $63,402
  • Year 3: $67,338
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,734
  • Year 2: $55,693
  • Year 3: $63,169
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,118
  • Year 2: $54,109
  • Year 3: $57,285
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,198
  • Year 2: $48,139
  • Year 3: $55,763
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,913
  • Year 2: $52,684
  • Year 3: $54,844
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $51,531
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,279
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $50,258
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,266
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $49,620
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,906
  • Year 2: $45,589
  • Year 3: $48,321
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,514
  • Year 2: $91,211
  • Year 3: $102,513
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,034
  • Year 2: $70,863
  • Year 3: $83,078
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,346
  • Year 2: $66,653
  • Year 3: $74,076
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,184
  • Year 2: $59,253
  • Year 3: $67,374
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,978
  • Year 2: $57,589
  • Year 3: $65,537
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,367
  • Year 2: $53,508
  • Year 3: $61,456
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,396
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $58,904
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $53,608
  • Year 3: $57,532
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,096
  • Year 2: $58,402
  • Year 3: $56,740
Music (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $56,355

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