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West Chester , PA
West Chester University of Pennsylvania, commonly known as West Chester or WCU, is a public university located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Established in 1871, it is one of the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). WCU offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in various fields of study, including arts and sciences, business and public affairs, education and social work, health sciences, and more.
Known for its focus on providing a quality education, West Chester University has been consistently recognized as one of the top regional universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report. The university prides itself on its diverse student body, with students from all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, as well as from across the United States and around the world. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1, students at WCU receive personalized attention and have ample opportunities for collaborative learning and mentorship.
Aside from its academic programs, West Chester University offers a vibrant campus life. Students can participate in over 200 clubs and organizations, including Greek life, cultural clubs, academic clubs, and more. The university also hosts numerous events, concerts, and performances throughout the year, providing students with a well-rounded college experience. Additionally, WCU boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research labs, and recreational amenities, ensuring students have access to top-notch resources for their education and personal growth.
Located in West Chester, PA and set in a suburban environment, West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public university. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 78%. The freshman retention rate at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 83.11% and the six-year graduation rate is 71%.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Quick Facts
14,449
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
71%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. What are the admission requirements for West Chester University of Pennsylvania?
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 13,479 in 2025. West Chester University of Pennsylvania has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 14% and ACT scores 1%. 4% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 41% between 1,200 and 1,399, 51% between 1,000 and 1,199, 3% between 800 and 999, and 1% between 600 and 799. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 18, 61 between 24-29, 18 in the range between 18-23, and 4 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 26 and the average GPA was 3.4. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into West Chester University of Pennsylvania; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 605 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 579.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for West Chester University of Pennsylvania was 83.11% in 2025, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 71%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right match for you is not a simple task. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 17,171 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 10% for that year. There was a total of 14,449 undergraduate students, including 37 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,044.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 5,709 male and 8,328 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. 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 411, while the number of African American students was 1,473. 1,159 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 547 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 12 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 155 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at West Chester University of Pennsylvania that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for West Chester University of Pennsylvania is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition fees for area resident were $7,716, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $19,290 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school amounted to $19,290, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $3,060 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,290 | $3,060 | $22,350 |
| In-State | $7,716 | $3,060 | $10,776 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,200.
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. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at West Chester University of Pennsylvania was $12,474 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 amounted to $8,624 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 7,716 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,474 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 21,390 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for many students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,798 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students totaled $10,406.5.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
4,980 students obtained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 6,855. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $19,672,566, and state $12,174,164. The students of West Chester University of Pennsylvania received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $8,974,332, and external in the amount of $3,180,117.
$2,022
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.
2,602 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 925 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $19,672,566 while the state aid is $6,945. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $4,273,895. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,592,145 USD.
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at West Chester University of Pennsylvania was 20:1. That means that there were 20 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 956 teachers at this school. This number included 412 men and 544 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about students' life at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Its campus is 409 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.
There are 312 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 13% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 14 for female students. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is L.E.A.D., followed by Sports Club Council and Fraternal Programming Board. Other popular organizations among the students at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are Student Activities Council and Student Government Association.
Students who have a talent for music can join the West Chester University of Pennsylvania band or chorus. If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join. For students looking to explore media and communication, West Chester University of Pennsylvania publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At West Chester University of Pennsylvania, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
All in all, campus life at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Career Counselling
At West Chester University of Pennsylvania, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are 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. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career.
FAQ
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West Chester University of Pennsylvania is located in West Chester, PA.
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West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 78%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 83.11%.
Contact Information
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
700 S. High Street
West Chester , PA
19383
610 436-1000
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.