Pennsylvania Western University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and in-state Pennsylvania residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 7,451 students.
About This School
Pennsylvania Western University is a public institution located in California, Pennsylvania with approximately 7,451 undergraduate students enrolled. Pennsylvania Western University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 94%. The average net price after financial aid is $18,256 per year. The graduation rate is 52%, and the typical graduate earns $44,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) is a public university in Pennsylvania, United States. It has three campuses in the Pennsylvania boroughs of California, Clarion, and Edinboro.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the $19,352 average net price is genuinely affordable, and the $16,750 median debt at graduation is relatively low, which matters. However, only 51% of students finish their degree, and the 70% freshman retention rate suggests a meaningful chunk of students leave after year one — worth asking why before enrolling. If you're cost-conscious, have a clear plan, and would thrive at a regional public university with multiple Pennsylvania campuses, this could work, but come in with eyes open.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 18% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 210 | $82,099 | $88,910 | −$6,811 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 149 | $44,180 | $53,072 | −$8,892 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 144 | $47,468 | $54,562 | −$7,094 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 134 | $47,295 | $47,382 | −$87 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 118 | $49,817 | $55,378 | −$5,561 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 118 | $55,515 | $68,257 | −$12,742 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 91 | $37,684 | $41,367 | −$3,683 |
| Psychology, General | 77 | $45,903 | $50,706 | −$4,803 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 75 | $56,316 | $58,928 | −$2,612 |
| Biology, General | 58 | $53,619 | $57,214 | −$3,595 |
| Social Sciences, General | 55 | $42,582 | $53,366 | −$10,784 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 51 | $45,300 | $55,695 | −$10,395 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (7,451 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Pennsylvania Western University
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Pennsylvania Western University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania Western University?
Pennsylvania Western University has an acceptance rate of 94%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Pennsylvania Western University hard to get into?
Not especially. Pennsylvania Western University has an acceptance rate of 94%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Pennsylvania Western University cost?
The average net price at Pennsylvania Western University is about $18,256 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania Western University?
Pennsylvania Western University has a graduation rate of 52%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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