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Pennsylvania Western University

California, Pennsylvania · Public · 4-year · Town

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At a glance

Average net price
$18,256What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
94%
Graduation rate
51%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
7,451
In-state tuition
$11,436Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$16,054
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$47,295Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$18,256

Better than 21% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

51%

Better than 48% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$47,295

Better than 25% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$23,725

Better than 22% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$26,916

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$18,256

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Pennsylvania Western University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time51%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return72%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$23,725
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$47,295

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Pennsylvania Western University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$70,857210
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$48,82246
Accounting and Related Services$48,41844
Computer and Information Sciences, General$46,73945
Human Resources Management and Services$44,11416
Mathematics$43,10522
Marketing$42,46528
Finance and Financial Management Services$42,09120
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,356118
Special Education and Teaching$40,01232
Social Work$39,19233
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$38,60313
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$38,237134
Criminal Justice and Corrections$37,542118
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$36,34510
Biology, General$35,30958
Political Science and Government$35,15216
Information Science/Studies$34,7723
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$34,54114
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$33,573149
Research and Experimental Psychology$33,33051
Social Sciences, General$32,95855
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$32,632144
Sociology$32,32511
Geography and Cartography$32,12211
Communication and Media Studies$31,29837
Biological and Physical Sciences$31,08010
English Language and Literature, General$29,52946
History$27,87115
Journalism$27,62012
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$25,66275
Psychology, General$23,19377
Fine and Studio Arts$21,52391
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralNot reported44
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported43
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation EngineeringNot reported23
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported18
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementNot reported16
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported15
ChemistryNot reported15
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansNot reported14
Systems Science and TheoryNot reported14
Social Sciences, OtherNot reported13
Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesNot reported12
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported12
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reported12
Computer ScienceNot reported12
EconomicsNot reported9
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/TechniciansNot reported9
PhysicsNot reported7
Business/Commerce, GeneralNot reported7
AnthropologyNot reported6
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reported5
Computer Engineering Technologies/TechniciansNot reported5
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported5
MusicNot reported4
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementNot reported4
Legal Support ServicesNot reported3
Business/Managerial EconomicsNot reported3
Real EstateNot reported3
StatisticsNot reported2
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansNot reported2
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reported2
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/TechniciansNot reported1
PhilosophyNot reported1
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Library Science and AdministrationNot reportedNot reported
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Arts, Entertainment, and Media ManagementNot reportedNot reported
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
International BusinessNot reportedNot reported
GerontologyNot reportedNot reported
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reportedNot reported

All 73 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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