West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA) vs Villanova University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Pennsylvania, offer distinct educational experiences. West Chester, a public university, boasts an acceptance rate of 79%, while Villanova, a private university, has a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 34%. West Chester's diverse student body comprises over 17,000 undergraduates, while Villanova's more intimate community consists of approximately 6,500 undergraduates. Both universities excel in academics, with popular majors ranging from business and nursing to engineering and education. However, Villanova's higher graduation rate of 89% compared to West Chester's 62% indicates a stronger focus on student success. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Villanova University |
![]() West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
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Overview |
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Location | Villanova, 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 and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 25.2% | 89.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$50
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Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1350 - 1490 | 1070 - 1250 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 23 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 28.0% | 27.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 17.0% | 1.0% |
Total number of applicants | 24,410 | 14,020 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,162 | 12,528 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,772 | 2,628 |
Yield rate | 28.8% | 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 | $77,806 |
In state:
$28,419
Out of state:
$40,243
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Average net price | $33,123 | $14,133 |
Tuition | $58,290 |
In state:
$7,716
Out of state:
$19,290
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,236
Meal plan:
$7,150
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Room/dormitory:
$5,794
Meal plan:
$3,700
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
52.0%
Average amount $43,106 |
100.0%
Average amount $4,607 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
34.0%
Average amount $5,267 |
51.0%
Average amount $5,238 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $29,933 |
11.0%
Average amount $11,835 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,032
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
14,471
Men 40.0% Women 60.0% |
Graduate students |
3,838
Men 46.6% Women 53.4% |
3,143
Men 31.7% Women 68.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 80.7% | 11.4% |
International students | 3.6% | 0.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 5,400 | 5,128 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Connecticut Maryland | 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 | 11:1 | 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 | 91.3% | 72.8% |
Dropout rate | 1.5% | 7.6% |
Transferred out | 7.2% | 18.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (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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