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California , PA
Pennsylvania Western University is a prestigious educational institution located in the western region of Pennsylvania. It is widely regarded as one of the top universities in the state and has gained a reputation for academic excellence and a commitment to student success. With its diverse range of programs and extensive research opportunities, the university offers a comprehensive and well-rounded education for its students.
At Pennsylvania Western University, students are provided with a wide array of academic programs to choose from. The university offers undergraduate degrees in fields such as business, engineering, sciences, arts, and humanities, ensuring that students can pursue their interests and career goals. Additionally, the university offers various graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees, providing advanced education and specialized training in a multitude of disciplines.
The university prides itself on its research endeavors and encourages students to actively participate in research activities. Pennsylvania Western University is home to state-of-the-art research facilities and laboratories, enabling students and faculty to conduct groundbreaking research in several areas of study. This emphasis on research not only enhances the learning experience for students but also contributes to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in various fields.
Overall, Pennsylvania Western University is a distinguished institution that offers a stimulating academic environment and an opportunity to excel in one's chosen field of study. With its extensive program options, commitment to research, and focus on student success, the university continues to attract students from across the country and around the world.
Located in California, PA, Pennsylvania Western University is a public four-year college. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 94%. The freshman retention rate at Pennsylvania Western University is 71.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 52%.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Pennsylvania Western University.
Quick Facts
7,586
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
52%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Discover some important facts about admission at Pennsylvania Western University.
In 2025, the school accepted 5,594 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.35. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
Retention Rate
The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Pennsylvania Western University was 71.7%, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 52%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the optimal place for you is not easy. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 10,834 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 10. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 7,586, 105 of which were foreign students. 521 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,876 male and 4,820 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 66, while the number of African American students was 623. 333 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 241 identified with more than one race. The school also had 7 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 11 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 746 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some important information on Pennsylvania Western University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Pennsylvania Western University? Here is what you need to know.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $7,716. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $11,574. Tuition costs at Pennsylvania Western University for international students came to $11,574. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $3,720 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $11,574 | $3,720 | $15,294 |
| In-State | $7,716 | $3,720 | $11,436 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important expense. Most students have to spend about $1,260 for books and supplies during their time at Pennsylvania Western University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Pennsylvania Western University was $11,790 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 amounted to $7,000 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 7,716 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,790 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,260 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,766 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at Pennsylvania Western University.
The most recent records show that 1,164 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $11,918.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
3,725 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Pennsylvania Western University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 5,054. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $18,228,169, and state $11,038,426. The students of Pennsylvania Western University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $1,036,560, and external in the amount of $1,733,387.
$3,073
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
3,367 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 962 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $18,228,169 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $57,686. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $11,691,529. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $5,116,922 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania Western University was 18:1: that means 18 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 569. Out of that number, there were 266 men and 303 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Pennsylvania Western University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Pennsylvania Western University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at Pennsylvania Western University.
Its campus is 294 acres in size.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 236 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 4.16 and female students 5.15. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Spirit of Scots Marching Band, followed by Animation Club and Vulcan Gaming Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Stand and Rainbow Alliance.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Pennsylvania Western University band or chorus. For individuals with a penchant for acting, there is a drama club offering an opportunity to get involved. You have a talent for media and communication? Pennsylvania Western University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Pennsylvania Western University offers a number of services crucial for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Pennsylvania Western University.
All in all, campus life at Pennsylvania Western University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Pennsylvania Western University.
Career Counselling
At Pennsylvania Western University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to full-time undergraduates only at this school.
FAQ
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Pennsylvania Western University is located in California, PA.
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Pennsylvania Western University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Pennsylvania Western University is 94%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Pennsylvania Western University is 71.7%.
Contact Information
Pennsylvania Western University
250 University Avenue
California , PA
15419
724 938-4404
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
